Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding each of the reviews of the Combat Poverty Agency; and the outcome and main recommendations of each. [5249/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The reviews of the work of the Combat Poverty Agency are at different stages of progression. The review of the Agency's Research Programme, initiated in May 2007 by the Agency and the Office for Social Inclusion of the Department, is being carried out by Goodbody Economic Consultants. It will, inter alia, assess the activities, output and outcomes of the research programme; review the programme's contribution to research on poverty; benchmark the Agency's research programme against best practice in the design and implementation of similar social research programmes in Ireland and internationally; and advise on the future direction of the research programme, particularly with regard to the most effective allocation and optimum use of research resources within the Agency and in collaboration with other organisations. A steering committee comprising representatives of the Combat Poverty Agency, the Office for Social Inclusion, relevant Government Departments and Goodbody Economic Consultants is overseeing the work. The review is nearing completion and I expect the report will be made available to the Board and to the Department shortly.

In line with a commitment in Towards 2016, a review of the Combat Poverty Agency's programmes that facilitate the participation of the community and voluntary sector and people experiencing poverty in the policy-making process has been in progress over the period 2006 and 2007. Some aspects of that review remain to be considered further before it is finalised. The review of the Combat Poverty Agency, which the Government decided will be undertaken by the Department, commenced in December 2007. The review forms part of the Department's Value for Money and Policy Review Initiative programme for 2006-08 and, when completed, will include recommendations on the future role and functions of the Agency. Mr. Niall Callan, formerly Secretary General of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, is the Chairperson of the Steering Committee. The membership of the Steering Committee, which is overseeing the task, comprises senior officials from my Department, other relevant Government Departments and the Combat Poverty Agency. I expect that this review will be completed in mid-2008.