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Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004

Thursday, 28 October 2004

Questions (260)

Seán Crowe

Question:

260 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent report, How are our Kids?, in Tallaght west; and the new measures or sanctions he proposes to introduce in response to the considerable problems highlighted in the report. [26658/04]

View answer

Written answers

I welcome the study, to which the Deputy refers, and like many others am concerned at its findings. It demonstrates the urgency of the action required to combat poverty, which impacts on our most vulnerable citizens, especially our children.

The study is based on a sample of 187 children drawn from 79 households in Tallaght west. The area differs from the average in this country in the following important respects. The population is much younger than the average, 54% under 25, compared with the national average of 37%, and 33% under 15, compared with the national average of 21%; almost 7% of the population lives with a disability of whom 14.6% are under 15 years age, compared with an national average of 5.3%; the proportion unemployed, at 10.6%, is more than twice the national average, while a further 4.6% are unable to work; almost one in three, 32.6%, of households are headed by a lone parent, with just under 24% of lone parent households having a child under 15 years, compared to national averages of 12% and 5.3% respectively; the numbers leaving education early are significantly higher than the national averages. Those living in the area are, therefore, at a much higher risk of poverty than the national average.

The national anti-poverty strategy, which has been in operation since 1997, is being constantly developed, a process being co-ordinated by the office for social inclusion in my Department. It is designed to meet the type of challenges highlighted by this study. A report on implementation of the plan for the period 2003 to 2004 is being finalised and will be published shortly. It is intended that this will provide a basis for evaluation of the progress made so far in combating poverty and social exclusion and what the priorities should be for further action. The evaluation will take place in consultation with the social partners, the community and voluntary sector and other interested parties, with a view to a report being forwarded to the EU in June.

A key priority will be to further develop a more effective regional and locally based approach to combating poverty, within the context of the revitalising areas by planning, investment and development, RAPID programme. This programme, launched in 2001, is designed to improve the quality and delivery of services and facilities in identified areas of urban disadvantage, which includes parts of west Tallaght. The ongoing review of the NAPS will examine how national policies in areas such as income and employment supports, child care, health, and education can be better integrated with locally based services to combat more effectively concentrations of poverty, especially in areas of deprivation. Above all it will seek to identify priorities for immediate action, given the urgency of significantly improving the well being of the children, whose situation is so well documented in the study.

The findings of studies such as this are being fully taken into account in this process. I have also asked my officials to contact the authors of the study with a view to discussing their findings and identifying other priorities for action.

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