Vol. 515 No. 4
21 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has requested the National Anti-poverty Strategy interdepartmental policy committee to examine policy responses to the spatial concentration of poverty in urban areas, particularly in the south and east regions. [6116/00]
26 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will report on the proposed input of his Department into the interdepartmental committee on targeted investments in disadvantaged areas, including proposed social inclusion measures in the national development plan. [6160/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 26 together.
The National Anti-poverty Strategy, published in 1997, recognised that disadvantage and unemployment affect virtually every area in Ireland and that the poor and unemployed are not singularly clustered in major urban areas. However, particular communities suffer from cumulative disadvantage and for such people it is likely that the cumulative effect is to intensify their experience of disadvantage. In some cases, these communities are geographically concentrated, for instance, in decaying inner city areas. In recognition of this, disadvantaged urban areas was one of the five key theme areas targeted for specific attention by NAPS.
The overall target of the NAPS in relation to urban disadvantage is to reduce the numbers of people suffering the greatest deprivation in disadvantaged urban areas by increasing their standard of living and providing opportunities for participation, thereby significantly reducing the measured indicators of disadvantage in the area, especially the rate of unemployment and long-term unemployment over the period to 2007.
The Government asked the NAPS interdepartmental policy committee in June 1999 to draw up new targets and to reflect the changed environment. This review of the NAPS got under way late last year but substantial consideration of new areas was postponed pending the outcome of any new partnership agreement. The proposed Programme for Prosperity and Fairness – PPF – provides that, in consultation with the relevant actors, the national anti-poverty strategy will be updated, the underlying methodology reviewed, the existing targets reviewed and revised where appropriate and possible new targets will be considered. The theme area of urban disadvantage will be one of the areas to be examined as part of this review process, especially in the area of housing and accommodation.
In addition, my Department, the Combat Poverty Agency and the Department of the Environment and Local Government are working with local authorities to raise their awareness of the NAPS and to assist them in advising on the development of an anti-poverty strategy in the context of local government reform. The introduction of the NAPS initiative in local authorities is also provided for in the PPF. I see this expansion of the NAPS to the wider public service as one of the key challenges in its next phase and one which can play a significant role in addressing the spatial concentration of poverty in disadvantaged urban areas, including those in the south and east regions.
The proposed new national agreement provides for a programme of targeted investments in disadvantaged areas. One of the objectives of this programme is to tackle, in particular, the spatial concentration of unemployment, poverty and social exclusion, following objective selection criteria in the 25 most deprived urban and rural communities, including local authority housing estates with the greatest development needs. To advance this, an interdepartmental committee will be established to identify and clarify the range of existing and proposed social inclusion measures in the NDP from which integrated intervention measures can be developed. This committee, following detailed consultations with the social partners, when formulating its proposals, will have regard to the experiences and implications of various existing schemes including the community development programme and the family services project.
Substantial increases in funding are planned for social inclusion measures under the NDP. This process seeks to ensure that these funds and actions are co-ordinated and targeted at the areas of greatest need.
Does the Minister accept that organisations such as the Dublin Employment Pact have clearly indicated, based on the research of the Trinity College economist, P.J. Drudy, that 11 of the 12 most disadvantaged areas in the country are in the Dublin region and that the other is on the north side of Cork city? Does he agree that the additional EU funds the Border, Midland and West region will receive over and above those received by the south and east regions will make it more difficult for these urban centres to access the moneys they need? Does the Minister also accept that a recent survey shows that one parish in my constituency of Dublin North-East still has 45% unemployment, which is ten times the national level of unemployment? Does he accept that the changes being made to the social economy will have a detrimental impact on the CEDP and voluntary and community programmes in those areas? Regarding decentralisation, a policy I do not accept given the unemployment in these areas, would the Government consider the decentralisation of major Government bodies to areas such as Coolock, Ballymun, Finglas, Blanchardstown, Tallaght, north Cork city or Limerick city? Would it consider such decentralisation which might be more relevant given the massive deprivation in those areas?
Before the Minister replies, I will take a supplementary question from Deputy O'Keeffe.
Does the Minister accept that we now have a two-tier society, which is obvious from the many disadvantaged urban and rural areas? Does he agree that Government policy, as evidenced by tax changes and otherwise, has contributed to the widening of the gap and has consolidated the two-tier society?
No, I do not accept that. Since the Government took office, 90,000 people have signed off the live register and many more jobs have been created. That is the best way to help people out of deprivation.
It is not happening in some places.
I accept there are areas in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, my constituency and Donegal with high unemployment. The last two have the highest overall unemployment rate.
The highest figures are in Dublin.
The unemployment rate in Dublin, which reflects constituencies such as the Deputy's, has fallen by about 45%—
Let us talk about the real Dublin.
—whereas, in Border areas, it has only fallen by about 8%. That is why the BMW area has retained Objective One status. That said, I will not second guess what 25 targeted areas will be decided in consultation with the social partners. Obviously, areas in both Objective One and Objective One in transition regions will be chosen as a result of that deliberation.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
