Kathleen Lynch
Question:16 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the revision of the national anti-poverty strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4826/03]
Written Answers - Anti-Poverty Strategy.
The revised national anti-poverty strategy, NAPS – Building an Inclusive Society – was launched by the Government in February 2002. The key objectives of the strategy are to reduce, and ideally eliminate, consistent poverty; build an inclusive society; and develop social capital – particularly for disadvantaged communities.
The strategy sets out a range of targets in the areas of income adequacy, employment and unemployment, education, health, and housing and accommodation. In addition, specific targets have been established in respect of groups identified as being particularly vulnerable to poverty.
The task of overseeing the overall implementation of the NAPS rests with the newly established Office for Social Inclusion, which is based in my Department and to which a director has been recently appointed. The office has a number of key functions in relation to the NAPS which include preparation of Ireland's national action plans against poverty and social exclusion; developing a more effective poverty proofing process; developing a formal data strategy and research strategy programme; and drawing up an internal and external communications plan.
Other institutional structures, designed to support the implementation of the strategy, are also being established. A technical advisory group, set up to assist in the development of the NAPS data strategy, recently held its inaugural meeting. This group consists of representatives of relevant Government Departments, the Economic and Social Research Institute, the Central Statistics Office and the Combat Poverty Agency. The social inclusion consultative group is being established to strengthen the involvement of the social partners in the NAPS process. The group will comprise representatives from Government Departments, the social partners, and anti-poverty experts. It is planned to hold the first meeting of the group shortly.
The first annual Social Inclusion Forum, convened by the National Economic and Social Forum, was held on 30 January last, with an attendance of over 300. This forum provided an opportunity for those working on the ground in the area of social inclusion to have a direct input into the NAPS process.
I should mention that the Office for Social Inclusion is currently engaged in the process of preparing the second national action plan against poverty and social exclusion to cover the period from 2003 to 2005. This plan must be submitted to the EU by end-July 2003. A public consultation process, currently being drawn up in collaboration with the Combat Poverty Agency, will be a key feature of the preparation of the plan.