Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of research projects being undertaken by the new integrated division in determining poverty and its effects; the areas of research; the timescale of this research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14252/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The integration of the Combat Poverty Agency and the Office for Social Inclusion to form the Social Inclusion Division has facilitated an enhanced capacity in relation to research and data. Evidence-based research on the changing nature, extent and causes of poverty is a vital element in the fight against poverty and social exclusion.

One of the functions of the division under its strategic plan 2009-2011 is to coordinate and initiate as required quantitative and qualitative research to assist with meeting the challenges that emerge from the monitoring and evaluation processes and, in particular, on new and emerging poverty risks. The work programme of the division has an enhanced role for high quality research in support of government strategies to tackle poverty and to promote social inclusion, which seeks to make best use of internal and external research capacity.

It is the intention that reports of research undertaken by the division will be published in a timely manner and that collaboration and consultation with social partners, including the community and voluntary pillar, and other bodies such as the National Economic and Social Council will be a key feature of the way in which the division works.

The main components of the research programme of the division are:

The analysis of data from the annual Survey on Income and Living Conditions in conjunction with the Central Statistics Office and the Economic and Social Research Institute. The division is currently finalising with the ESRI a report on poverty trends between 2004 and 2007 for children, people of working age and older people.

The development and reporting of indicators and associated data strategies to monitor progress on the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016. This work is undertaken through a technical advisory group made up of research and statistical experts, government departments and the social partners.

The analysis of the impact and effectiveness of public policy on poverty and social exclusion. In this regard, the division recently published a review of the effectiveness of domestic energy efficiency programmes in conjunction with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

Support for independent research studies on new and emerging aspects of poverty under an academic research funding programme developed by the former Combat Poverty Agency. These reports are published on-line as research working papers. Recent reports have analysed topics such as active citizenship in Dublin's Docklands, public-private partnerships in social housing regeneration, early school leaving, lone parents and the private rented sector, medical card eligibility and the financial difficulties of those living below the poverty line.

Two research seminars to promote and disseminate the research work of the division are planned as part of the Irish programme for the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010. The first of these will examine Irish poverty rates in a comparative European context and is being organised in conjunction with the Economic and Social Research Institute. The second will review indicators for monitoring progress on poverty and is being organised in conjunction the technical advisory group.