I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 22 together.
A report entitled Urban Poverty, the Economy and Public Policy was published by the Combat Poverty Agency on 20 May 1991. The statistical information concerning poverty rates included in the report relates in the case of Ireland to 1973, 1980 and 1985. The significant improvements we have made during the past four years in the rates of social welfare payments are not reflected in the statistical analysis in the report.
For example, in the period July 1987 to July 1991 the personal rate of long term unemployment assistance increased by over 45 per cent. This is an increase of 27.5 per cent in real terms. In the same period, the rate payable to a married couple on the short term rate of unemployment assistance or supplementary welfare allowance increased by 41 per cent, almost 24 per cent in real terms.
This year we have again provided special increases to those on the lower rates of payments. The personal rates of short term unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance are being increased by over 11 per cent. Families on these payments will receive increases of over 9 per cent. Families of those on unemployment benefit and disability benefit will also receive increases ranging up to 7 per cent. These increases take effect from next month.
The key issue arising from the report referred to is the need for an integrated approach in tackling the problems of disadvantaged communities and particularly the problem of long term unemployment. The value of an integrated approach of this nature was also stressed in the NESC report entitled, A Strategy for the Nineties.
The need for such an integrated approach is in keeping with the Government's area based response to long term unemployment as set out in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. This innovative approach in combating long term unemployment complements initiatives which I have already taken in introducing greater flexibility in the unemployment payment system and in the area of community development. We now have 705 long term unemployed people doing full-time second chance education programmes.
The Government's new strategy is area based. Local communities are the prime movers. They will integrate with initiatives already in place, including the educational initiatives which I have introduced over the past few years. The strategy will involve a progression, in particular to ensuring second-chance education, leading to qualifications and therefore a greater possibility of a job.
Under this programme, which is already under way, a series of pilot projects will be carried out this year in 12 areas. These areas were selected on the basis of recommendations made by the Central Review Committee under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. A national level team representative of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the employer organisations, FÁS and the Departments of Education, Social Welfare and the Taoiseach has been established to organise the project and to monitor and co-ordinate the activities of individual local companies. These companies, which are being set up to co-ordinate the response in each of the 12 areas, will be representative of the local community interests, public agencies and the social partners.
The pilot projects will be reviewed at the end of the year. On the basis of this review, satisfactory models will progressively be extended nationwide by 1994. The suggestions contained in the report can contribute to the implementation of the new area based response strategy.
A number of the pilot areas selected under the area based strategy to combat long term unemployment also contain community development projects which are being funded by my Department under the nationwide programme of community development, which I introduced last year.
Under the programme, grants are being made to local projects to establish local resource centres which are designed to act as a focal point for community development initiatives. A key feature of the programme is that the participating projects have security of funding for a three-year period. This year the Government provided an additional £225,000 for the programme, bringing the overall allocation in 1991 to £750,000. These additional resources are being used to provide increased funds to the existing 15 participating projects and to extend the programme to other areas. A new project in the Bray area was launched recently and work on establishing projects in Darndale in north Dublin and in Waterford city is at an advanced stage. In addition, plans to establish other projects in Kilkenny and west Cork are being finalised
In general, the projects being funded under the programme receive grants of £40,000 per year and a special allocation of £100,000 per year is being made to a project in Tallaght.
I am convinced that the best approach to tackling the problems of disadvantaged communities is through developing and enhancing integrated approaches such as those which I have outlined.