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Anti-Poverty Strategy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2010

Wednesday, 19 May 2010

Ceisteanna (158)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

188 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the approach he plans to take to the setting of poverty reductions targets, their form and level under the new EU 2020 strategy when the issue is discussed at the June European Council meeting. [20784/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The European Council at its meeting in March 2010 agreed on the inclusion of five headline targets in Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The targets constitute shared objectives guiding the action of the Member States and the Union on the key areas where action is needed: knowledge and innovation, a more sustainable economy, high employment and social inclusion.

The target to promote social inclusion is framed in terms of poverty reduction targets. Its purpose is to measure progress in reducing poverty and in ensuring that the benefits of growth and jobs are shared. The Commission proposed a target of reducing poverty in Europe by 25 per cent or 20 million people using the at-risk-of-poverty indicator. The European Council decided that further work is needed on appropriate indicators and will revert to the issue at its June 2010 meeting.

The Irish Government supports the decision to include a poverty target in the European strategy for 2020. Ireland favours the formulation of an appropriate target based on a poverty indicator, which reflects the multi-dimensional nature of poverty. The overall EU poverty reduction target will be translated into national targets to take account of the differing starting points of member states. Since 1997, the Irish Government has adopted poverty targets as part of its national policy against poverty and for social inclusion. The Irish target is based on a composite poverty measure called ‘consistent poverty'. The measure identifies the percentage of the population which is both below 60 per cent of median income (known as ‘at-risk-of-poverty') and experiencing material deprivation (the enforced lack of two or more basic necessities).

The Government target in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 is to further reduce consistent poverty to between 2-4 per cent by 2012 and to eliminate it by 2016. The latest results from the EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), released in November 2009, which applied to 2008, indicated at that stage that the reductions in poverty were on track to achieve both the 2012 and 2016 targets. It showed that the rate of consistent poverty in the population in 2008 was 4.2 per cent, down from 5.1 per cent in 2007 and 6.5 per cent in 2006.

The EU Social Protection Committee (SPC), through an expert sub-group, is examining the appropriate indicators for an EU poverty target. Officials of the Social Inclusion Division of my Department and officials of other relevant Departments are actively participating in these deliberations. A number of options are under consideration. These were discussed at the SPC meeting on 17/18 May and, following those deliberations, a recommendation is to be framed for consideration at the ESPHCA Council of Ministers meeting on 7/8 June. It is anticipated that the proposal for an appropriate poverty target will be decided at the European Council meeting later in June.

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