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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Oct 1998

Vol. 494 No. 4

Written Answers. - Anti-Poverty Strategy.

John Gormley

Ceist:

259 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance the targets, if any, set by his Department in respect of the reduction of the proportion of the population living in poverty; the targets to be met arising from the forthcoming budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18356/98]

The National Anti-Poverty Strategy, NAPS, established as its top priority the reduction in the 9 to 15 per cent of the population, identified as consistently poor in the 1994 Living in Ireland survey, to less than 5 to 10 per cent by the year 2007. Consistent with the strategy, considerable efforts and resources have subsequently been directed towards combating social exclusion and disadvantage under the various commitments agreed in Partnership 2000 and in accordance with the Government's programme. Furthermore, since the Strategy recognised that the unemployed were the group at the greatest risk of poverty and that the most effective way of reducing poverty was through the creation of jobs, the considerable rise in the numbers at work and the associated large falls in unemployment, particularly long-term unemployment, recorded in recent years can be taken as representing substantial progress towards meeting the overall target. The Government is committed to making further advances on the social inclusion front and the forthcoming budget will have regard to this through furthering policies appropriate to the country's economic and social needs.

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