Written Answers. - NESC Report.
Liam Fitzgerald
Ceist:
56
Mr. L. Fitzgerald
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
his views on the recently published NESC report entitled, Strategy into the Twenty-First Century; and the plans or proposals, if any, he will put in place to ensure that recommendations contained in the NESC report will be implemented.
[18559/96]
The publication by the NESC of the conclusions and recommendations arising from its report entitled "A Strategy into the 21st Century" is timely and welcome in the context of the debate on the need for a new national programme.
The report concludes that the major economic and social challenges we currently face are to manage growth and lay the foundations for sustained national competitive advantage, and to promote social inclusion and cohesion so that all sectors of Irish society are enabled to participate in supporting that national competitive advantage and to benefit equitably from the success that advantage will bring. It emphasises in particular the need to reduce unemployment and to start a long-term reversal of inequality.
The NESC report also outlines the priorities which the council believes must underlie an integrated programme to tackle unemployment and social inclusion, including—
— action on key unemployment and poverty traps;
— expansion of targeted employment measures for the long-term unemployed; and
— development of an effective local employment service.
These priorities match those which have driven this Government's continuing determined efforts to tackle the root causes of long-term unemployment and social exclusion.
Against that background, the council concludes that negotiated social partnership programmes are a most effective mechanism for developing competitiveness and social cohesion. In this context, the council has made a specific recommendation concerning the scope for enhancing the partnership approach through development of the arrangements for participation and monitoring of progress.
The recommendation, which has been accepted by the Government, is that, at the outset, all relevant parties, including the Government, make opening position statements at a formal meeting for that purpose and that discussions thereafter proceed bilaterally and multilaterally, as appropriate, depending on the issues being considered.
The House will be aware that the Taoiseach is inviting key national organisations to discussions later this month about the priorities for a new national programme.
The report emphasises the priority which must be attached to combating unemployment and social exclusion and outlines the council's views on the priority policies and actions which it considers will achieve the greatest impact in this area.
The council notes that a long-term strategy for social inclusion requires that public policy be oriented in such a way as to promote a reallocation of resources to those in greatest need and notes the key role which the National Anti-Poverty Strategy will play in this regard.
In the area of income support, the council recommends that the next national programme should seek to bridge the remaining gap between social welfare rates and the minimum rates advocated by the Commission on Social Welfare in 1986, subject to overall Exchequer constraints and pending consideration of the current review of income requirements which I have commissioned from the ESRI.
The council's report also examines the issues of work incentives and poverty traps, and includes proposals on reform of the family income supplement scheme and the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Finally, the report also includes recommendations on future actions to combat tax, welfare and employment fraud.
The NESC report brings valuable insight to the many issues which are addressed within it and I will take the closest account of the council's views in developing social welfare policy.
