Written Answers. - Rural Poverty.
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:
17
Mr. Broughan
asked the
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
the plans, if any, in his Department to tackle rural poverty; the further plans, if any, he has to deliver on the establishment of a rural development fund as recommended in the White Paper on rural development; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[23638/99]
My Department is a participant in the National Anti Poverty Strategy known as NAPS which was launched in 1997.
In addressing rural poverty one of the five themes in NAPS the target is to ensure that strategies are developed with regard to the provision of services in rural areas, especially those concerned with educational disadvantage, unemployment and income adequacy so that the overall target of the NAPS is achieved.
That overall target was to reduce the numbers of those who are consistently poor from 9-15% in the population to less than 5-10% as measured by the ESRI. The most recent data available relate to the ESRI's living in Ireland survey. This shows that the numbers experiencing consistent poverty have fallen to 7-10% of the population by 1997, which indicates that the NAPS global target was virtually achieved. In the light of this progress, the Government has set a new target of reducing consistent poverty to below 5% by 2004.
NAPS identified those in poverty as including both low income farmers and other non-farm rural dwellers. The living in Ireland surveys suggest that the level of farm households in poverty has decreased substantially in recent years. In 1997 13% of farm households were identified in this category compared with 20% in 1994 and 33% in 1987. This trend is the reverse of the general position in households. The comparable figures are 16% in 1987, 18% in 1994 and 22% in 1997.
The Combat Poverty Agency has commissioned research on low income farm households and the results should be available in the New Year. The results will be useful in refocusing policy measures as appropriate.
My Department's contribution to NAPS is principally through the operation of its programmes and schemes. These are a mix of income supports, including compensatory payments, measures to improve farm structures and their viability and support for alternative enterprises. The farm assist scheme is, of course, operated through the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
Income support for farmers in the form of direct payments has grown dramatically since the MacSharry CAP reforms. In 1998 direct payments, mainly consisting of headage payments in disadvantaged areas and CAP reform compensation payments, accounted for 56% of aggregate farm income.
The rural development fund promised in the White Paper has been provided for in the national development plan with an allocation of some £6 million. The Fund will finance research, evaluations and pilot actions, where appropriate, to provide information and advice to policy makers on such issues as the effectiveness of sectoral policies, structural change, income and employment opportunities and rural inclusion. I am pleased to say the strategy set out in the White Paper endorses and supports the objectives contained in the national anti-poverty strategy.
The national development plan, which gives practical expression to the commitments in the White Paper, provides for investments in agriculture and rural development of £6.7 billion over the next seven years which will directly impact on rural areas. Other investments under the plan in areas such as housing, health, roads, transport and enterprise support will also be of considerable importance in improving the economic and social life of rural areas.
