Ruairí Quinn
Question:42 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the position with regard to poverty proofing in his Department and across the Government. [29695/00]
Vol. 528 No. 2
42 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the position with regard to poverty proofing in his Department and across the Government. [29695/00]
53 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the way in which Budget 2001 was poverty proofed. [29780/00]
57 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the way in which Budget 2001 was poverty proofed by his Department and other Departments. [29683/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 53 and 57 together.
Following the agreement among the social partners in July 1998 on a pilot poverty proofing system to assess all significant policy proposals for their potential impact on the poor, the Government adopted this process in official Cabinet procedures. Given its multi-dimensional nature, poverty cannot be solely the concern of one Department. Each Department has a responsibility and an obligation to ensure that its policy proposals are poverty proofed.
To assist in the implementation of poverty proofing, the national anti-poverty strategy unit, based in my Department, produced a set of guidelines on poverty proofing and worked examples which were distributed to all Government Departments last year. The unit has also met with the strategy's liaison officers in all Government Departments and discussed poverty proofing with them in order to assist with any difficulties.
As provided for in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, the poverty proofing arrangements are currently being reviewed by the National Economic and Social Council. I expect that the outcome of the review will enhance the current process and help address any difficulties that may constrain its effective implementation. Following the review my Department will consider further measures for improving the process.