Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

184. To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of recent Central Statistics Office figures that show 30.5% of persons experience enforced deprivation (details supplied), if he will increase the SICAP budget as it is one of the few measures that deals directly with social inclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3944/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The recently published CSO release on SILC 2013 shows that the basic deprivation rate was 30.5 per cent, an increase of 3.6 per cent on 2012. The rise in basic deprivation has affected all income groups and reflects the legacy of the economic crisis since 2008 on many low and middle income households.

The key measure of poverty from a policy perspective is consistent poverty, which is the combination of at-risk-of-poverty and basic deprivation. The rate of consistent poverty in 2013 was 8.2 per cent, a slight though not statistically significant increase on 2012. The Government remains committed to meeting the national social target for poverty reduction, which is to reduce consistent poverty to 4 per cent by 2016 and 2 per cent or less by 2020.

A key component of Government policy to tackle poverty is to provide adequate income support through the social protection system. In 2013, welfare payments and other social transfers (including pensions) lifted a third of the population out of the at-risk-of poverty, thereby reducing the rate from 49.8 per cent to 15.2 per cent, which is 1 percentage point lower that the 2012 at-risk-of-poverty rate.

Growing employment and providing the supports needed through activation to get people back to work will have a direct impact on poverty. While Government policies are restoring economic and employment growth, this recovery is not yet reflected in household living standards, as captured in the 2013 statistics. The Government is committed to delivering a new deal on living standards to ensure that the economic recovery is felt by low and middle income working families. Thus, Budget 2015 increases support for families raising children, assists unemployed families with children to return to work and improves the financial position of vulnerable welfare recipients, including those living alone. There were also significant reductions in personal income tax and the Universal Social Charge, and a major investment programme in social housing. I’m confident that these measures will be reflected in future poverty statistics.

The Deputy refers to the SICAP budget. He should note that responsibility for SICAP (Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme) lies with Minister for the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.