Written Answers. - Poverty Levels.
Róisín Shortall
Question:
155
Ms Shortall
asked the
Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs
when the last audit or report regarding the extent, depth and dispersal of poverty in the State and, in particular, an analysis to those most at risk was taken or commissioned by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7377/99]
The last report to carry out an in-depth analysis of the extent and depth of poverty in this country was the ESRI's 1996 publication, Poverty in the 1990s, based on the 1994 Living in Ireland Survey, LIIS, and jointly sponsored by my Department and the Combat Poverty Agency.
The National Anti-Poverty Strategy's, NAPS, focus and targets were informed by this report. The APS has an overall target of reducing the numbers of "consistently poor" from 9 per cent – 15 per cent of the population, as identified in the 1994 LIIS, to less than 5 per cent – 10 per cent by 2007. The "consistently poor" are defined as those living in households whose incomes are below 50 per cent and 60 per cent of average net household income and are experiencing basic deprivation.
While the numbers in consistent poverty fell between 1987 and 1994, the 1994 LIIS also showed that, compared with 1987, the proportion of persons below the 50 per cent and 60 per cent relative income lines had increased slightly, though the percentage below the 40 per cent relative income line fell or was stable.
Distribution-sensitive summary poverty measures, which take into account not only numbers below the relative income lines but how far their incomes are below the line, fell between 1987 and 1994. This indicates that, although more people fell below the relative income lines, the depth of poverty was generally less severe.
According to the ESRI data, households headed by an unemployed person and households headed by someone working in the home were the largest groups in poverty in 1994. The groups at greatest risk of poverty were: the unemployed, particularly the long-term unemployed; children, particularly those living in large families; single adult households and households headed by someone working in the home; lone parents; and people with disabilities.
Further analysis of the 1994 data carried out by the ESRI and sponsored by my Department and the Combat Poverty Agency resulted in the 1998 publication,Where are Poor Households? This study showed that poverty is not, to any significant degree, concentrated in any particular type of area and that housing tenure is a more significant factor in explaining the distribution of poverty risks and the concentration of poverty than location per se.
The Economic and Social Research Institute will finalise a report around Easter, commissioned by my Department and the Combat Poverty Agency, on poverty trends between the years 1994 and 1997, updating the data we have available. This, along with other relevant reports and research, will inform the future direction of the strategy and provide us with the updated information necessary to refocus our efforts on those most in need.
I will, in the near future, be publishing an assessment of how we are doing in relation to the specific targets set out in the NAPS on the basis of this ESRI and other research.
