Ciarán Cuffe
Ceist:101 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on the details and the recommendations of the report, “Young Men on the Margins”, as published by her Department. [12091/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 28 April 2004
Ceisteanna (86)
Freagraí scríofa
The report in question was commissioned by the Katherine Howard Foundation and funded by my Department under the families research programme. The report highlights the fact that young men are over represented among the homeless, those involved in crime and in prison and among those who take their own lives.
It points out that the threat of marginalisation mainly affects young men who are experiencing poverty, broken homes and who live in disadvantaged areas. These are the men most likely to relate to the traditional form of masculinity — the male breadwinner in a male dominated environment. In considering the reasons for this, the report explores the changing nature of society and suggests that modern family structures, the changing nature of work — with increased female participation and reduced numbers of traditional male jobs — and differing educational participation rates and achievements have all had an impact on modern masculinity. The report states that the roots of the difficulties being experienced by marginalised men go back to early childhood. Unfortunately, they can also result from an ongoing lack of the supports needed from family, community, State and other services that would enable the men to adjust more effectively to the complex world in which we live and to reach their potential.
One key finding in the report is that the fragmentation of the supports and services being provided takes greatly from their overall effectiveness. In its conclusions, the report calls for a concerted and comprehensive approach to future family support programmes and policies. The Government is now addressing this through the national action plan on social inclusion, which outlines a clear strategy to combat poverty and social exclusion, with objectives and targets, policy measures to give effect to the strategy and institutional arrangements designed to ensure that there is close monitoring and evaluation of these measures.
In particular, there are current Government initiatives aimed at ending child poverty; tackling educational disadvantage — literacy, numeracy and early school leaving; improving care, especially for children; increasing the provision of housing and accommodation; decreasing the levels of alcohol/drugs misuse; including everyone in the information society; improving prospects for the long-term unemployed, vulnerable workers and those who have been made redundant.
I launched the "Young Men on the Margins" report last week and copies of this research project are being despatched to all Members of the Oireachtas.