Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she plans to publish the Code of Practice to Support Engagement of People Experiencing Poverty and Social Exclusion in Policy Development and Implementation which was to be a key national legacy from the 2010 EU year of combating poverty and social exclusion. [10225/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In order to support the engagement of public bodies with people experiencing poverty and social exclusion, a code of practice was commissioned by the former Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs and compiled with the technical assistance of an external consultant.

The document was prepared in consultation with Government departments and agencies and with groups and organisations experiencing poverty and social exclusion. The objectives of the code of practice were to:

Provide a comprehensive framework on how Government departments and agencies can engage with people experiencing poverty and social exclusion;

Set out the rationale and benefits of engagement for Government departments and agencies;

Give guidance on different methods of community engagement and examples of different approaches that have been taken in Ireland;

Establish what people can expect from engagement and consultation exercises; and

Apply tried and tested tools, methods and examples of what works (local, national and international) to an Irish context.

A draft version of the code of practice report has been submitted to my Department and is currently under consideration. The intention would be to complete this consideration in the near future and to make it publicly available as soon as possible thereafter.