Patrick Costello
Question:26. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which it is envisaged the poverty targets in the social inclusion roadmap will be achieved. [39664/20]
View answerThursday, 3 December 2020
Questions (26)
Written answers
Building on the work of its predecessors, the Roadmap for Social Inclusion aims to reduce the number of people in consistent poverty in Ireland to 2% or less and to position Ireland within the top five countries in the EU across a number of key aspects of social inclusion. While this is ambitious, my Department and the Government are committed to its achievement over the lifetime of this strategy and this is reflected in the Programme for Government, which commits to its rigorous implementation. The most recent poverty data from the 2019 Survey on Income and Living Conditions in Ireland, published by the CSO recently, showed a national consistent poverty rate of 5.5%. The data also showed that incomes in 2019 had increased overall and as a result the percentage of people at risk of poverty (with an income below 60% of the median) had decreased to 12.8% (from 14% in 2018), reflecting the more optimistic economic environment of only a year ago. Social transfers continue to have a significant impact on income poverty in Ireland, with a poverty reduction effect of 58% in 2019. However the data showed an increase in the deprivation rate to 17.8%, from 15.1% in 2018, which is a concern. The Roadmap recognises that achieving the poverty targets requires a combination of approaches including the provision of income supports, employment supports (including access to employment, education and training opportunities) and access to services (such as healthcare, childcare etc). It also requires a collaborative approach and engagement across government. In practical terms there are 66 unique commitments across 13 Government Departments that must be implemented in a collaborative manner if we are to make progress towards achieving this ambitious objective. Progress on the implementation of the Roadmap commitments will be monitored by the Social Inclusion Roadmap Steering Group, of which I am the Chair. The Group is comprised of senior representatives of responsible departments at Assistant Secretary and Principal Officer Level to ensure that implementation of the Roadmap remains a priority for each department. The groups also includes three external members from the Community and Voluntary sector, who will add significant value and bring important insight to the work of this Group. The first meeting of Steering Group took place on 11 November 2020 and I intend for this Steering Group to meet at least twice in 2021. The Department of Social Protection will also produce an annual report on progress against each commitment, which will be submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality for consideration and to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands for discussion. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.