Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent findings of the report, Inclusion is Everyone's Business, produced by the social inclusion unit of Dublin City Council, which found that levels of poverty in parts of Dublin had not changed and that levels of deprivation had worsened somewhat in the 11 years up to 2002; the steps he intends to take to deal with the issues highlighted in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11834/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The report Inclusion is Everyone's Business was launched by the Taoiseach on 28 February 2005 and examines Dublin city in terms of demography, socio-economic factors, levels of affluence, deprivation and social exclusion. I welcome the report as an important milestone in the process of developing integrated anti-poverty strategies at local level to underpin and strengthen the overall national anti-poverty strategy.

The Dublin city report has highlighted the many positive actions that are taking place across a whole range of areas designed to make Dublin a more socially inclusive city as well as the areas where further progress is needed.

The national anti-poverty strategy is the overall framework within which such further action will be taken. The annual report of the office for social inclusion published last December gives a detailed outline of the actions being takenunder the current national action plan, covering the period 2003 to 2005, in alleviating poverty in all areas of Ireland, including Dublin city. This report is on the website of the office and is being regularly updated. Some of the more significant developments include the following:between 2001 and 2005 spending on social welfare has increased from €7.8 billion to €12.2 billion; lowest social welfare rates have increased by 40%, during the same period, while the consumer price index has increased by just over 13%; and unemployment levels, at 4.4%, are now among the lowest in the EU and the developed world generally.

However, despite the significant increases in real terms in social welfare payments and the resulting improvements in standards of living, the incomes of many on social welfare have not kept pace with the major increases in incomes generally. The main reasons for these overall income improvements include the major increases in employment, which in many cases is significantly better paid than before, the increase in female participation in the workforce, leading to more two income households, lower tax levels in return for wage moderation to maintain competitiveness, and fewer child dependants as a result of lower birth rates and, compared to other countries, fewer dependent older persons.

Many groups in society have not been in a position to benefit to the same extent as the majority from Ireland's economic success, mainly because they have not had access to better paid employment. These include families with children, especially lone parents and larger families, those who are relatively unskilled with low educational attainment, those with disabilities, minority groups such as Travellers and migrants, and some older people, especially those living alone. For example, among those in the working age groups there are currently twice the number receiving disability related and lone parent related weekly payments than there are receiving unemployment related payments. Many of those who are socially excluded are concentrated in disadvantaged areas in our cities and towns, a reality clearly documented in this report on Dublin city.

There are, unfortunately, no single or quick fix solutions. For those in the working age groups, the priority solutions being pursued, in line with best international practice across the EU and OECD, are a combination of actions to remove obstacles to employment, enhance employability, while increasing benefits rates in real terms and improving access to services, especially at local level. Removing obstacles to employment involves the provision of education and training, particularly for those who may have missed out and those with disabilities, help with job search and placement, and for those with children, child care and income support through child benefit and the family income supplement. A more integrated approach at local level involving local authorities, as envisaged in the Dublin city report, can do much to ensure that a comprehensive set of supports is provided and that the resources available are used to good effect.

The office for social inclusion is also currently engaged in an evaluation of the progress made under the national action plan over the two years period, 2003 to 2005, against targets. A report on the evaluation will be submitted to the European Commission in June 2005. Full account is being taken of reports related to the process, such as this report on Dublin city, in carrying out the evaluation. This evaluation will in turn form the basis for the next national action plan to cover the period 2006 to 2009, the preparation of which will commence as soon as the evaluation is done.

The process ensures that reports of the quality and calibre of this report on achieving social inclusion in Dublin are fully taken into account, together with the report's recommendations, in deciding on the actions to be taken in building a more inclusive society.