Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Feb 1996

Vol. 462 No. 1

Written Answers. - Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Chris Flood

Question:

13 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Social Welfare in view of the expressed view of the Government that a national anti-poverty strategy will be put in place by the end of 1996, if the Government intends to take a medium-long-term view rather than a short-term ad hoc approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4027/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

As the Deputy is aware, at the UN World Summit for Social Development in 1955, the Irish Government agreed a programme of action geared not only to eliminating absolute poverty in the developing world but to a substantial reduction of overall poverty and inequalities everywhere. For Ireland, this will require the development of a coherent and targeted anti-poverty strategy, placing poverty and inequality issues firmly at the heart of national policy-making with the aim of developing a more inclusive and just society.

The strategy is being developed by a high level interdepartmental policy committee. In keeping with the commitment in A Government of Renewal to extend the opportunities for democratic participation by citizens in all aspects of public life, the committee is providing for consultation with and the participation of those affected by social exclusion through their representative organisations.

The interdepartmental committee has been charged with preparing a report which will form part of the National Report for the United Nations, to be completed before the end of 1996, to demonstrate national progress in implementing the UN Commitment.

An overview statement, summary of submissions and a booklet on the institutional mechanisms required to support the national anti-poverty strategy in the medium to long-term have been published and were issued to several thousand organisations and individuals. A series of national seminars were held (Cork, Monaghan, Galway and Dublin) and the consultation process is continuing. The three documents mentioned above will be amended in the light of feedback from the seminars.

Poverty is a deep-seated problem requiring priority attention. It has to be tackled by a combination of state action, the engagement of all key interests in Irish society and the involvement of those directly affected by poverty. Poverty is a matter of economic as well as social policy and is, therefore, as important a concern for the framing of economic policy as it is for the development of a social dimension in economic and social development. In the medium term, the setting of specific targets to be achieved in moving towards a reduction in the levels of poverty will help focus attention on overall policy goals and objectives and provide a clear measure of relative success.

It is intended indeed that the strategy should become embedded in the policy-making process and it is therefore — of its very nature — not anad hoc approach as the Deputy states, but one requiring a medium to long-term perspective.