Brendan Howlin
Ceist:52 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when he expects to receive the report commissioned from the NESC on poverty proofing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31600/01]
Written Answers. - Anti-Poverty Strategy.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:55 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will outline and report on the process of poverty proofing which operates within his Department and across the Government. [31614/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 55 together.
Following the agreement among the social partners in July 1998 on a pilot poverty proofing system to assess all significant policy proposals for their potential impact on the poor, the Government adopted this process in official Cabinet procedures. All memoranda for Government and key policy initiatives upon which significant policy decisions have to be made, are required to be poverty proofed since late 1998.
The introduction of poverty proofing is a major tool in ensuring that Departments are kept aware of the possible implications of policy on those most in need and it is a system this Government is committed to as part of its social inclusion strategy.
To assist in the implementation of poverty proofing, the national anti-poverty strategy unit, based in my Department, produced a set of guidelines on poverty proofing and worked examples which were distributed to all Departments in 1999. The unit has also met with the strategy's liaison officers in all Departments and discussed poverty proofing with them in order to assist with any difficulties. As provided for in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, the poverty proofing arrangements have been reviewed by the National Economic and Social Council. The review examined issues such as how the pov erty proofing process might distinguish between large integrated programmes and other more self-contained proposals. It also assessed how the poverty proofing process might be integrated with the broader policy proofing requirements, such as equality proofing.
The NESC has now completed the review and its report, which was recently received by Government, is due to be published in the next few weeks. The recommendations contained in the report will be considered in the context of the implementation of the revised national anti-poverty strategy.