asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a decision will be made on the future of the EEC programme to combat poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
148.
Written Answers. - Combat Poverty Programmes.
147.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the position the Government are taking on the future of the EEC programme to combat poverty and on the extension of the work of the existing projects.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together.
The EEC programme of pilot schemes and studies to combat poverty ends on 30 November 1980 and under the relevant Council decision a report giving an assessment of the results was to be submitted to the Council of Ministers by 30 June 1981. To span the period of approximately two years between the end of the pilot programme and the commencement of any measures adopted as a result of the evaluation of that programme, the EEC Commission submitted a Supplementary Interim Programme which was put down for discussion at the meeting of the Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs of the Council in Luxembourg on Monday, 9 June 1980.
At that meeting one delegation was not prepared to accept any proposal before a final evaluation of the present pilot programme had been made. As unanimity was required on the matter the proposal would have then been rejected had I not put forward, on behalf of the Irish Government, a compromise proposal whereby the Commission would present a detailed initial evaluation of the programme at the next Council meeting in November. The Council accepted my proposal.
When the evaluation report comes to hand the Government will consider what attitude it will adopt at the next Council meeting.
149.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare, in the light of the wide-ranging conclusions of the Interim Report of the National Committee on Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty, the steps that are planned in the fields of economic and social policy and administrative reform to deal with the deprivation suffered by a significant proportion of the population of the State.
The Government are unreservedly committed to tackling poverty and has repeatedly given positive proof of this commitment. As an example I might mention the measures taken in the budget which provided increases of 25 per cent and 20 per cent respectively in long-term and short-term social welfare payments and introduced a number of other improvements in this area. In the field of administrative reform my colleague, the Minister for Justice, has established the Legal Aid Board to administer the Scheme of Civil Legal Aid and Advice.
In addition, the National Social Services Council is being re-organised and strengthened to enable it to better contribute to the development of personal social services. The health boards in association with many voluntary organisations are providing additional day care centre facilities for the old and handicapped. In the long-term, the protection of the old, the widowed and the invalided from poverty will depend on the development of a national earnings related pension system which I regard as a matter of priority.
In her preface to the recent Second Interim Report of the National Committee on Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty the chairperson stressed the pilot nature of the programme and pointed out that the report should be seen as preparing the way for a final evaluation report later this year.
I have taken note of the views expressed in the report and, in addition to other measures which I am examining, I am awaiting the final report of the committee to assist in determining what manner of continuing action should be taken to combat poverty in our society.
150.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he last met with the National Committee on Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty; and the plans he has for further meetings with the Committee.
151.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans he has for the continuation of the Irish programme of studies and action projects to combat poverty.
With the permission of the Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 150 and 151 together.
I last met representatives of the National Committee on Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty on 11 June 1980 and further discussions are to take place shortly.
Possible future arrangements for continuing action to combat poverty will be the principal subject of these discussions and I will be considering the feasibility of new structures to combat poverty in the light of the experience gained in the pilot schemes.