Arthur Morgan
Ceist:94 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has received a copy of the policy briefing recently published by the CORI justice commission; and if so, her views on the document. [24344/03]
Written Answers. - Budget Submissions.
The pre-budget submission of CORI is one of many submissions I have received and which are being considered in the context of the forthcoming 2004 budget.
The submission sets out the views of CORI on the priorities which it considers require to be addressed by Government in the forthcoming budget across the range of policy areas which impact on poverty and social exclusion.
The submission argues that the effect of Government budgetary decisions relating to tax reductions, social welfare increases and other factors has been to increase income inequality in Irish society. I believe, however, that budgetary decisions must be viewed in the context of the wider economic policies which have been pursued by this Government in recent years. These policies have seen very significant increases in employment levels; reductions in unemployment and in particular in long-term unemployment; heavy investment in infrastructure and in public services; and substantial increases in real terms in household incomes at all income levels.
This is reflected most clearly in the sharp decrease we have seen in consistent poverty over recent years. Consistent poverty – a combined measure using income thresholds and the experience of deprivation – is the measure used for the global poverty reduction target in the revised national anti-poverty strategy, NAPS, launched in 2002. Consistent poverty has fallen from 15.1% in 1994 to some 5.2% in 2001. The Government is committed to reducing consistent poverty to below 2%, and ideally eliminating it, by 2007.
The CORI submission provides a valuable input to the budgetary process and its recommendations will receive the fullest consideration in that context.
Question No. 95 answered with Question No. 92.