David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 635: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the level of consistent poverty; those at risk of poverty respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29538/09]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 637: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding reducing the number of those experiencing consistent poverty, including children, to between 2% and 4% by 2012 in line with the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion; her views on whether the goal of elimination of consistent poverty by 2016 will still be achievable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29540/09]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 638: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the groups in society that have the highest levels of consistent poverty; the steps she will take to reduce the poverty risk and poverty levels of these groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29541/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Question Nos. 635, 637 and 638 together.

Combating poverty and building an inclusive society are key priorities for the Government. The overall goal of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion (NAPinclusion) introduced in February 2007 is to reduce the number of those experiencing consistent poverty to between 2 per cent and 4 per cent by 2012, with the aim of eliminating consistent poverty by 2016. These commitments and the social inclusion commitments in the National Development Plan have wide ranging support, having been drawn up in consultation with the social partners and other stakeholders.

The latest results from the EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), released in December 2008, which applied to 2007, indicated at that stage that the reductions in poverty were on target to achieve both the 2012 and 2016 goals. It showed that the rate of consistent poverty in the population in 2007 was 5.1 per cent, down from 6.5 per cent in 2006 and 7.0 per cent in 2005.

The position of groups most vulnerable to consistent poverty is as follows. The proportion of children experiencing consistent poverty reduced from 10.3 per cent in 2006 to 7.4 per cent in 2007. This significant reduction may be, at least in part, due to the major reduction in the incidence of consistent poverty among lone parents from 33.9 per cent in 2006 to 20.1 per cent in 2007. The other age group vulnerable to consistent poverty is people living alone and their position remained the same, apart from a slight increase for those over age 65. Other groups with a relatively high level of consistent poverty include the unemployed whose rate reduced from 22 per cent to 17.5 per cent and those not at work due to sickness or disability whose rate reduced from 17.9 per cent to 15.8 per cent.

The major factor determining whether people are vulnerable to consistent poverty, demonstrated by the findings of this and other similar surveys, is employment. The rate of consistent poverty in 2007 for households where no one was at work was 16.3 per cent, (although this was down substantially from 21.2 per cent in 2006). This rate was 4 times the rate for households where one person was at work. Where two people in a household were at work the rate was just 1.3 per cent.

Our challenge now is to create jobs for those without work. Economic policy is the major basis for creating jobs and reducing unemployment. I am confident that the Government is pursuing the right economic policies to achieve those aims. Employment participation, for example, is currently facilitated and incentivised by a range of education and employment supports made available by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to people in receipt of social welfare payments, particularly the long-term unemployed, lone parents, and sickness related welfare recipients. These include the Back to Education and Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Schemes. The Activation and Family Support Programme and the Second Chance Education Opportunities Scheme offer supports to social welfare customers and others to help them improve their employability and personal and family situations. People with families who are in lower paid employment are eligible to receive the Family Income Supplement which increases household income while enabling recipients to remain in, or take up, employment.

It is also more essential than ever in the current economic conditions to ensure that the resources devoted to social inclusion policies are used as effectively and efficiently as possible. The National Action Plan on social inclusion facilitates this through tackling poverty in a coordinated and 'joined up' way so as to ensure better results in relation to both the people supported and the substantial resources expended. The range of policies subject to the National Plan include actions on employment, social welfare, education, health, housing, disability and equality.

The Government's commitment to prioritising the most vulnerable people in our society was clearly demonstrated in Budget 2009 which, despite the state of the public finances, provided increases of between 3% and 3.8% in basic social welfare rates. It is also vital however, that economic policies are pursued at this time that will enable better and more secure living standards for the future. Achieving the right combination of both economic and social policies will determine the extent to which we can achieve the overall goal of eliminating consistent poverty by 2016. I am confident that we are pursuing the correct combination of economic and social policies that will greatly increase the likelihood of achieving that goal.