The policies pursued by the Government in recent years in combating unemployment and reducing the level of consistent poverty have brought about a significant improvement in the situation of those on lower incomes. The NAPS strategy has ambitious targets across a number of areas which will further the Government's goal of creating a society where everyone has the opportunity and incentive to participate fully in the social and economic life of the country. In particular, it has a new target to reduce the numbers consistently poor to below 2% and, if possible, eliminate consistent poverty.