Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are two points to my question. One relates to social policy. The Taoiseach speaks about everything that is right in this country. I preface my remarks by saying that one of the greatest social changes was free second level education. It has now empowered almost three generations of people. It has certainly worked enormously well but I believe that as many as 18%, or at least 10% to 15%, of people in our society are severely disadvantaged in where they are living because of family backgrounds and so forth. They suffer from social problems, drug addiction and everything else. They are living all over the country; they are dispersed and are not only located in the large urban centres. The major challenge as we go forward as a society will be developing a coherent social policy that will empower these people. People 50 years ago used the education services to improve their lot. These people are not engaging with the education services, with the health services or with society as a whole in terms of community activity or anything else. The major social policy question is what is the Government's thinking? Has it come up with any special Cabinet committees to look at what social policies should be developed? It is not an easy question but it is a challenge for society as we go forward.

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