Vol. 503 No. 4
41 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will report on the poverty proofing of Government decisions; if the one year pilot programme across Government is proceeding successfully; and if this programme will be a permanent feature of Government decision making. [10355/99]
Following a Government decision in July last year, a system of poverty proofing in the case of significant policy proposals has been introduced on a one year pilot basis across Departments. This system seeks to ensure the needs of the poor and socially excluded are considered as policy is designed. The revised Cabinet handbook issued in October 1998 states that memoranda for Government should indicate the impact of the proposal for persons in or at risk of falling into poverty in the case of significant policy proposals. In consultation with the social partners, a framework on poverty proofing was prepared setting out the process to be followed. This framework was circulated to all Departments in September 1998.
In response to a request from my Department, information was recently provided by Departments on their experience of poverty proofing to date. A summary note on the issue was circulated at the Partnership 2000 secretariat meeting on 23 March last incorporating details of the poverty proofing exercise conducted by the Department of Finance and my Department on the 1999 budget. In general, feedback from Departments indicates that the poverty proofing arrangements are becoming more embedded. Departments are taking steps to raise the profile of the poverty proofing process internally by such means as office communications and the inclusion of the issue at management level fora. Departments have been applying the process to memoranda for Government and my Department has been monitoring memoranda submitted to it to ensure the appropriate reference is included.
Given that this complex process has only been in operation for some months, it is inevitable that it will take time for the process to be implemented fully. In a further effort to assist Departments to implement the process, my Department has now finalised additional guidance notes, incorporating some worked examples of the process in action, which are now being issued to all Departments. My Department will also pursue possibilities for incorporating appropriate training modules into general service training courses. It is important to bear in mind that the process is only half way through its pilot phase of one year. The review of the pilot process is due to be conducted around September this year and any ongoing difficulties in implementation will be identified and addressed at that stage.
Poverty proofing plays a vital role in bringing the needs of the disadvantaged to the forefront of the policy agenda and demonstrates the Government's commitment to the cause of social inclusion.
I thank the Minister and his staff for a recent briefing which brought this valuable initiative to my attention. Does he believe that, given the role poverty proofing is playing, it should cease to be a pilot programme and should become embedded forever in the system? What special role, if any, does the Minister have at Cabinet on this matter? Would it be necessary for him to adopt the role of ultimate poverty proofer for any programme? With regard to the Combat Poverty Agency's recent report, a copy of which I have not yet received—
It was only issued two days ago.
I saw the publication but do not remember receiving a copy. What role will the agency play in this system?
On the issue of schemes in general – the capital grants for sports bodies, which often go to deprived areas, and the Minister's grants for voluntary bodies being two specific examples – the key problem with them is that, despite the best efforts of Ministers and their predecessors, the schemes receive about 10 to 20 per cent of the funding they need. Affirmative action is needed in this area.
I thank the Deputy for his remarks about my staff and their briefing. I would like to see the system of poverty proofing continue because, having been at Cabinet at a time when there was no reference to poverty proofing, it is safe to say that almost all memoranda which come to Cabinet not only have a section on implications for gender but also on implications for poverty. Departments are now acutely aware of this matter. It is not just a case of my monitoring the arrangements at Cabinet. It is becoming ingrained in the system and that takes time. In everything Departments do they must be conscious of the need for poverty proofing and, in that regard, it is slowly but surely coming to fruition.
The Deputy referred to my overall responsibility for the social inclusion strategy, the National Anti-Poverty Strategy. One of the key issues is the implementation of the strategy throughout Departments and part of that process is poverty proofing. Departments acknowledge that whatever they do must be examined in the context of the implications for the less well off in society.
Does the Minister believe there is a recognition on the part of officialdom that there is a substantial amount of poverty in society? Does he accept that much more is needed than a formal poverty proofing procedure to tackle the roots of that poverty? What plans, if any, does the Minister have to tackle the root causes of poverty in society? Does he believe the poverty proofing approach he has outlined is the main plank of his anti-poverty platform?
No. I am currently bringing forward the first annual report on the NAPS. Some of the targets set when that plan was put in place a number of years ago have been effectively met. When it was compiled it was hoped unemployment would be down to a rate of 6 per cent by 2007. The current rate is 6.7 per cent. Therefore, a 6 per cent rate will be reached well in advance of the target date set in the plan.
Given the work we have done on the unemployment rate in the past couple of months, we anticipate it will be down to 5 per cent, which is even lower than the rate we anticipated under the employment action plan, which commenced in September 1998. At that time we expressed the view that the rate would fall to 7 per cent over the period of the plan, a target that has already been exceeded. At the time the Tánaiste and Minster for Enterprise, Trade and Employment expressed the hope that the rate would be reduced to 5 per cent.
I am currently considering re-energising the targets with a view to creating even more ambitious ones. I plan to shortly introduce new targets on what we should do to address indicators on the level of poverty. Ultimately, the route out of poverty is by providing people with the opportunity to find jobs.
I am not making a political point when I say there has been a sea change in the last number of years. Many of the figures often quoted inside and outside the House are old. For example, an ESRI report on child poverty indicated that 28 per cent of children are living in a state of poverty or in a level of relative poverty. That was a 1994 figure and it is already acknowledged the level of consistent poverty has fallen. We still have a job to do and there are difficulties, but we are moving to create a better and more inclusive society.
When will the Minister have a new NAPS plan?
I hope very shortly. I am considering publishing the first annual report on the NAPS and introducing new targets in the near future.
Will it be weeks or months?
It is being examined by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Social Inclusion and Drugs, which meets regularly. It is meeting tomorrow to consider this matter.
A difficulty with the National Anti-Poverty Strategy is that its targets are based on the 1994 era. The world has changed dramatically since then. Poverty is relative. For example, the choices available to the better off 20 per cent of society are much wider. Those in the bottom 30 per cent have a far more restricted lifestyle. Does the Minister agree he should address this area also?
I acknowledge that. Political practitioners in the House sometimes wonder about this aspect. Many of the indicators on poverty refer to levels of relative poverty and people's expectations. While this does not distort figures or perceptions, we must accept there is relative and consistent poverty. Our research indicates that consistent poverty has been reduced. The issue of relative poverty depends on how well others are doing in society and on expectations. In view of this we are conscious of the need to re-examine the targets.
The unemployment targets have been met long before dates outlined in the plan. Similar targets have been met on issues such as income adequacy and the achievement of the CSW rates. These were already achieved in the budget.
We have not been as successful in a number of other areas and we are examining these and new areas. The Combat Poverty Agency has indicated that in preparing the last NAPS plan, with which I was not involved, we did not push hard enough for the issue of child poverty to be included on its agenda. I have taken on board what it said in that regard and we will consider this issue in the context of new targets we hope to set and to bring forward in the near future.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
