Brian O'Shea
Question:44 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance when the two operational programmes on social inclusion will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2740/00]
Written Answers. - Operational Programmes on Social Inclusion.
Brian O'Shea
Question:63 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance the Department which will have overall responsibility for the two operational programmes on social inclusion; the plans, if any, he has for co-ordination between various Departments to ensure maximum impact for the programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2741/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 63 together.
A sub-programme on social inclusion will form an integral part of each of the two regional operational programmes under the national development plan – NDP. These operational programmes are currently being drafted and will be finalised in the near future. The social inclusion sub-programme will comprise a range of measures including child care, equality, community development and family support, crime prevention, youth services and services to the unemployed. There are also a wide range of social inclusion measures under the NDP national or inter-regional operational programmes, in particular, the social housing and health capital sub-programmes under the economic and social infrastructure OP and a range of training and education measures targeted at the socially disadvantaged under the employment and human resources OP. In total some £15 billion is provided in the national development plan to directly promote social inclusion.
The main Departments which will be involved in implementing the social inclusion measures to be covered by the regional operational programmes are Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Social, Community and Family Affairs; Tourism, Sport and Recreation; and Education and Science. In addition, the Departments of the Environment and Local Government and Enterprise, Trade and Employment will, as respective managing authorities, be involved in the social inclusion aspects of the operational programmes for economic and social infrastructure and human resources.
The management of the regional operational programmes will be the responsibility of the two regional assemblies who have been designated managing authorities for their respective operational programmes. Departments and State agencies, who will be the bodies implementing the various social inclusion measures, will liaise closely with the Assemblies in this regard. To ensure co-ordination between these Departments and agencies at local level, and the maximum impact from all expenditure on social inclusion, a working group on social inclusion measures under the NDP has been set up under the task force on the integration of local government and local development systems, which is chaired by the Minister for Environment and Local Government. This working group is due to report shortly.
In addition, there is the senior officials group which reports to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Social Inclusion. This group will be responsible for central co-ordination of social inclusion policies and programmes. Finally, the monitoring committees for each operational programme will be monitoring the impact of their particular programmes, sub-programmes and measures on an ongoing basis. These monitoring committees will have social partner representation including the community and voluntary pillar.
It is the Government's objective to ensure that the social inclusion provisions in the NDP are effective and bring real benefit to the socially excluded in our society. This requires efficient delivery mechanisms. I am determined to ensure that the process I have outlined for the co-ordination of social inclusion measures under the NDP will work effectively so that the very significant level of State expenditure planned on these measures over the period of the plan will have maximum impact.