Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 Oct 2003

Vol. 573 No. 1

Written Answers. - Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Joe Costello

Ceist:

97 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of calls to St. Vincent de Paul's Dublin office increased by 127% in three months recently; her views on this increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24207/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

I have been made aware of the press release issued by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in which it signals that there has been a significant increase recently in the numbers of people making contact with the society.

I am deeply conscious of the invaluable contribution which the society makes in alleviating the effects of poverty on the most vulnerable members of Irish society and the close contact society members maintain with the least well off.

It is not clear from the society's press release what specifically occasioned this sudden upsurge in the demand for their services, as the steady improvement in payment levels and in the services for the less well off have been maintained.

The policies pursued by the Government over recent years in combating unemployment and in reducing the level of consistent poverty have brought about a significant improvement, in real terms, in the situation of people on lower incomes.

The Government's ongoing priorities in this regard are reflected in the approach set out in the revised national anti-poverty strategy, published in February 2002, and in the national action plan against poverty and social exclusion launched in July of this year. These contain ambitious targets across the range of policy areas which impact on poverty and social exclusion, including social welfare payments, education, health, employment, and housing and accommodation. Notably, they include a key target of raising the lowest social welfare rate to €150 in 2002 terms by 2007.

The achievement of the targets contained in the revised National Anti-Poverty Strategy, NAPS, and in the national action plan against poverty and social exclusion will build on the achievements to date in creating a more just and inclusive society, a goal we share with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and other like minded organisations, and look forward to working with them to achieve it.