Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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153. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the membership of the technical advisory group in her Department; the number of meetings held in each of the years 2011 to 2013, inclusive; the work plan and outputs of the group in that period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1888/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Technical Advisory Group is one of the structures set up to support the implementation of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. The Group supports the remit of the Department in developing indicators and data for the measurement of poverty and in monitoring and interpreting poverty trends. It is composed of experts in social research, social statistics and social policy from Government departments, academic organisations, state agencies and social partners. In 2011, the group met four times (17 February; 26 May; 12 September; and 12 December). In 2012, the group met three times (8 March; 25 June; and 9 November). In 2013, the group met twice (11 March; 3 July; a third meeting proposed for 3 December was deferred until early 2014).

The main activities of the group are as follows: (i) the development of indicator and data sources on poverty; (ii) the monitoring of poverty targets and supporting indicators; (iii) informing research on new and emerging aspects of poverty; and (iv) advising on cross-cutting issues at national and EU levels on poverty measurement and research). Recent activities of the group include:

- the review of the national poverty target

- the development of EU poverty indicators and targets

- the EU peer review on the setting of national poverty targets

- the implementation of the DSP research programme on the analysis and measurement of poverty and social exclusion, including technical papers and thematic reports

- the analysis of the results of the annual CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC)

- the development of the Social Inclusion Monitor to report on progress on the national social target for poverty reduction and supporting indicators.

The group provides a very important forum for strengthening the knowledge base about poverty measurement and for informing the development of evidence-based policies to tackle poverty. I am very appreciative of the support and expertise provided by the group to the Department and look forward to their continuing role in this regard.

2014 Technical Advisory Group Membership List (includes alternates)