Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in her Department on the roll out of the poverty impact assessment to ensure that all policies are evaluated in terms of their potential impact on poverty and social inclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24099/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The development of policy within my Department is informed by consultation with a range of stakeholders as well as consideration of its impact on the physical, economic and social conditions of people living in rural areas, with particular emphasis on farm and fishing communities. In relation to the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, my Department consulted with a number of groups involved either directly or indirectly with poverty and social inclusion such as the Combat Poverty Agency, European Anti-Poverty Agency, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed, Community Partnership Network, Irish Rural Link, Age Action Ireland and many other organisations who focused on the importance of poverty and social inclusion as part of their submissions.

My Department has engaged with the Office of Social Inclusion on the roll-out of the Poverty Impact Assessment guidelines and will be engaging with them further on implementation of the new guidelines.