Departmental Bodies Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 January 2014

Thursday, 16 January 2014

Questions (153)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

153. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the membership of the technical advisory group in her Department; the number of meetings held in each of the years 2011 to 2013, inclusive; the work plan and outputs of the group in that period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1888/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Technical Advisory Group is one of the structures set up to support the implementation of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. The Group supports the remit of the Department in developing indicators and data for the measurement of poverty and in monitoring and interpreting poverty trends. It is composed of experts in social research, social statistics and social policy from Government departments, academic organisations, state agencies and social partners. In 2011, the group met four times (17 February; 26 May; 12 September; and 12 December). In 2012, the group met three times (8 March; 25 June; and 9 November). In 2013, the group met twice (11 March; 3 July; a third meeting proposed for 3 December was deferred until early 2014).

The main activities of the group are as follows: (i) the development of indicator and data sources on poverty; (ii) the monitoring of poverty targets and supporting indicators; (iii) informing research on new and emerging aspects of poverty; and (iv) advising on cross-cutting issues at national and EU levels on poverty measurement and research). Recent activities of the group include:

- the review of the national poverty target

- the development of EU poverty indicators and targets

- the EU peer review on the setting of national poverty targets

- the implementation of the DSP research programme on the analysis and measurement of poverty and social exclusion, including technical papers and thematic reports

- the analysis of the results of the annual CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC)

- the development of the Social Inclusion Monitor to report on progress on the national social target for poverty reduction and supporting indicators.

The group provides a very important forum for strengthening the knowledge base about poverty measurement and for informing the development of evidence-based policies to tackle poverty. I am very appreciative of the support and expertise provided by the group to the Department and look forward to their continuing role in this regard.

2014 Technical Advisory Group Membership List (includes alternates)

Category	TAG Representative	Organisation
Central Statistics Office	Tom McMahon	Central Statistics Office
-	Pamela Lafferty	Central Statistics Office
-	Patrick Foley	Central Statistics Office
Academic experts	Tim Callan	Economic and Social Research Institute
-	Bertrand Maître	Economic and Social Research Institute
-	Helen Russell	Economic and Social Research Institute
-	Dorothy Watson	Economic and Social Research Institute
-	Chris Whelan	UCD School of Sociology
-	Brian Nolan	UCD College of Human Sciences
Social Partners	Dr Seán Healy S.M.A.	Social Justice Ireland (C&V Pillar)
-	Caroline Fahey	Society of St Vincent de Paul (C&V Pillar)
-	Kara McGann	IBEC (Employers' Pillar)
-	Gillian Westbrook	ICSA (Farmers' Pillar)
-	Peter Rigney	ICTU (Unions' Pillar)
-	Loraine Mulligan	ICTU (Unions' Pillar)
Government Departments	Brian McCann	D/Children and Youth Affairs
-	Diarmuid Reidy	D/Education and Skills
-	Gillian Golden	D/Education and Skills
-	Helen McGrath	D/Environment, Community & Local Government
-	Geraldine Luddy	D/Health
-	Tim McCarthy	D/Health
-	Sinéad Quill	D/Health - Office for Older People
-	Gráinne Whelan	D/Justice and Equality
-	Pamela McLoughlin	D/Justice and Equality
-	Tom Maguire	D/Justice and Equality
-	Pauline Moreau	D/Justice and Equality - Gender Equality Division
-	Joan O'Shea	D/Public Expenditure and Reform
-	Colin Menton	D/Public Expenditure and Reform
-	Yvonne Jackson	D/Taoiseach
-	Edel Cooke	D/Taoiseach
State agencies	Laurence Bond	Equality Authority
-	Eithne Fitzgerald	National Disability Authority
-	Marion Wilkinson	National Disability Authority
-	Helen Johnston	National Economic and Social Development Office
Department of Social Protection	Jim Walsh	-
-	Kasey Treadwell Shine	-
-	Joanne Mulholland	-
-	Elaine O'Neill	-
-	Brian King	-
-	Paul Morrin	-