The Action Programme for the Millennium sets out an ambitious agenda for Government action through political, economic and other measures to build an inclusive society, protect families and make them central to policy making and address the needs of older people and radically improve provision for them.
New goals in the review of the action programme are intended to consolidate the considerable progress made over the past two and a half years and to continue the drive forward to achieve the Government's social inclusion targets and ensure that everybody has the opportunity to participate fully in the social and economic life of the country. Key priorities for families build on major achievements in the services to families since 1997. These include the establishment of the Family Mediation Service on a statutory basis, as promised in the review. Since 1997 investment in the service has increased from £300,000 in the previous Government's budget to £1.2 million in the last budget. The service is now available not only in two centres in Dublin and Limerick, as was the case when the Government took office, but in nine centres throughout the country. They also include the establishment of 100 family and community centres – the target is 50 centres by the end of 1999, up from ten in 1997 – and the further development of local offices of my Department to provide improved family services. Pilot projects are already under way in Cork, Finglas and Waterford.
The bringing forward of significant initiatives in the next budget and subsequent budgets to respond to the child care and child support needs of families are important priorities in the review of the action programme. The ministerial group on child care, of which I am a member, is considering the findings of the interdepartmental committee which recently reported to the Government. My Department has significant and substantial responsibilities which are relevant to child support matters. These responsibilities include the Government's social inclusion commitments, income support provision for families which includes child benefit paid to over 500,000 families with 1.2 million children and the development of family policy.
Additional information
The review of An Action Programme for the Millennium confirms the Government's commitment to advancing the goal of bringing the old age contributory pension to £100. It further extends the £100 commitment to all social welfare old age pensioners by 2002. This year's budget delivered increases of £6 per week in all personal pension rates, well above the average inflation rate and representing an increase of £11 per week since the Government came into office. Over the lifetime of the Government, all social welfare pensions for older people will be increased in line with increases in average earnings.
The Government in the review of the action programme is committed to putting families at the centre of all its policies, addressing the care requirements of older people, setting new targets for pensions and putting in place a coherent system of support for families with all their caring needs.
