Mary Coughlan
Ceist:23 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Social Welfare the progress, if any, made towards the finalisation of a national anti-poverty strategy. [22163/96]
Written Answers. - National Anti-Poverty Strategy.
Seán Haughey
Ceist:58 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to build an anti-poverty strategy into the talks which are currently under way on a successor to the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. [22164/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 58 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, a statement setting out the nature and extent of poverty and social exclusion in Ireland has already been prepared and published as part of the national anti-poverty strategy, as has an evaluation of submissions from the voluntary and community sector, the social partners and other interested bodies and individuals. Regional seminars to discuss the submissions received have also taken place. Progress to date reflects the major degree of consultation which has taken place.
The key issues and policy areas which must be tackled if the strategy is to be a success have also been identified for action. These are: educational disadvantage; unemployment, particularly long-term unemployment; income adequacy; regenerating disadvantaged areas with concentrations of poverty; tackling poverty in rural areas.
Subgroups have been established for each of these key themes which include not only Government Departments but also national representative organisations of the voluntary and community sector as well as the social partners. Each key theme group has also held a consultation seminar to ensure that as wide a range of views as possible has been taken into account.
The groups, which have been meeting over the last few months, are now in the process of finalising their reports and it is intended that they will report back to the interdepartmental committee very soon. When this has been done, policy areas will be identified which cut across Departments and strategic responses will be developed.
It is also important to note that individual Government Departments have also begun the process of examining and reviewing their own policies and operations from an anti-poverty perspective. In this regard, my Department is involved in a major review of all its activities, the majority of which last year involved expenditure of over £4 billion and impact on poverty. These reviews are due to be completed before the end of the year.
The type of institutional mechanisms to be put in place to ensure that the issue of reducing poverty and social exclusion is firmly on the agenda of all Government Departments and agencies and that there is appropriate co-ordination across and between Departments in this area has also been discussed.
A review is being carried out to identify what institutional mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that the issue of social exclusion remains a high priority. My Department has engaged a consultant to aid in this process and he has recently reported.
A one day consultation seminar to gather views on this issue was recently held in Cork. The finalisation of the overview statement will take place this year particularly in light of new Economic and Social Research Institute statistics relating to the extent and nature of poverty due to be available before the end of the year.
Finally, it is intended that a report to the UN will be made before the end of the year setting out progress to date and a strategy for the future.
In relation to Deputy Haughey's question regarding the talks under way concerning a successor to theProgramme for Competitiveness and Work, it is important to stress that the talks are ongoing and remain confidential.
However, I have observed the broad range of support which has to date been indicated among the various social partners for the continued development of the strategy. This is something I would wish to encourage. While the talks are still under way and while nothing has been finalised, the next national programme could play an important part in underpinning the development of the strategy in its objective in tackling poverty.