Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the measures which are taken by his Department on an annual basis to monitor the achievement of the objectives of the national anti-poverty strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9660/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The causes of poverty and its effects are multifaceted and require an integrated, multi-policy response at national, regional and local levels. The Government's strategic approach to tackling poverty was initially provided through the national anti-poverty strategy, NAPS, which was introduced in 1997. This strategy has now been subsumed into the national action plan against poverty and social exclusion, NAP-inclusion. The Deputy will be aware that Ireland has produced two NAPs-inclusion covering the periods 2001-2003 and 2003-2005, respectively, as part of the EU open method of co-ordination aimed at making "a decisive impact on poverty" by 2010.

As Minister for Social and Family Affairs, I have lead responsibility for driving this process, working closely with my ministerial colleagues through the Cabinet committee on social inclusion. Strong institutional structures are in place to underpin the process. The Office for Social Inclusion, OSI, in my Department co-ordinates the process at official level and has responsibility for monitoring, developing and driving implementation of the NAP-inclusion on an ongoing basis.

A key priority for the office during 2005 was the production and publication of a report to the EU on the implementation of the NAP-inclusion 2003-2005. This report was prepared by the office following an in-depth monitoring and evaluation process which involved senior officials and policy owners from relevant Departments, representatives of the social partners and the voluntary and community sector. The report outlined progress achieved in relation to the social inclusion targets and commitments contained in Ireland's second NAP-inclusion, which cover a wide range of policy areas. It found that some 51 of its 58 targets and commitments had either been met or were in the process of being met, but that progress was still needed in some areas.

EU member states are due to submit the next round of NAPs-inclusion, covering the two year period from 2006 to 2008, to the EU in September 2006. The experts on the nature, causes and reality of poverty and social exclusion in Ireland are the people actually experiencing poverty and those who work with and support them. Therefore, as part of our preparation for the next NAP-inclusion, OSI late last year embarked on an extensive consultation process with stakeholders, including people who are experiencing poverty and social exclusion and those who work to support them either directly or indirectly, in an effort to capture first hand their knowledge, experience and expertise.

During the course of this consultation we obtained valuable information, much of it positive in relation to many aspects of the current NAP-inclusion. This information will inform us in evaluating the programmes and policies that are working well, the areas which need more attention and what the priorities should be for the next plan. Much more remains to be done to tackle the problems of poverty and exclusion experienced by persons in the most vulnerable groups and areas. Our work in this area must continue. I want the next national action plan to be focused and to sharply reflect the experience, views and priorities of Irish society in meeting one of our greatest challenges, that of building not just a prosperous, but a fair society, which values and supports all of its people, and particularly its most vulnerable. I am determined, therefore, through vigorous monitoring, implementation and development of the strategic process, in full consultation with all the stakeholders at national, regional and local levels, to continue to build and improve on our achievements so far.