Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the request by the Combat Poverty Agency to establish a National Implementation Group to monitor the delivery of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion at local level via the City and County Development Boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7998/07]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the recent finding of a company (details supplied) who, on behalf of the Combat Poverty Agency, found in their report that although the policies and infrastructure to tackle poverty already exist, conflicting priorities at local and national level and poor integration of existing structures are hampering implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7996/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 54 together.

The report by ERM Consulting Poverty and Social Inclusion, Linking Local and National Structures, which I recently launched, is being examined by the Office for Social Inclusion in my Department and by other Departments, including the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The importance attached by the report to the effective implementation of social inclusion policies at both national and local level, and the need for strong linkages between both levels, is reflected in several key elements of the government's social inclusion strategy. The social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, which adopts the life cycle framework to address social exclusion, recognises that effective delivery of services at national and local levels, with flexibility to adapt to change, is essential to tackle the challenges faced by people at different stages of the life cycle. The National Development Plan 2007-2013 and the new National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 (NAPinclusion), also recognise the importance of improved linkages and integration of existing structures. Both plans include commitments to support the work of the County/City Development Boards (CDBs) which, together with the Social Inclusion Measures Groups, are key structures in ensuring better co-ordination and delivery of policies at local level, a point acknowledged in the ERM report. Further evidence of the Government's commitment in this area can be seen from the agreement in Towards 2016 to double the number of social inclusion units in local authorities and to have a unit in half of all authorities by the end of 2008.

The Government has put in place mechanisms to ensure that social inclusion policies are effectively implemented at a local level across the country. The Local Government Social Inclusion Steering Group, chaired by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, is a key structure in this process. The group's aim is to support the development of a strong anti-poverty focus within local government. Furthermore, the NAPinclusion provides for the further development of this group to support the linkages between national and local level and it will report on progress to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion. The recommendations made in the report and associated policy statement by the Combat Poverty Agency, including the proposal for a National Implementation Group to monitor implementation at local level, will be considered in the context of further developing the institutional structures for promoting social inclusion.