Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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41. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the likelihood of the national social target for poverty reduction being met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1963/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The national social target for poverty reduction agreed by Government in 2012 is to reduce consistent poverty from 6.3% in 2010 to 4% by 2016 and to 2% or less by 2020. This was an ambitious target, particularly during a time of economic recession, but one to which the Government has remained committed.Data from the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) indicate that consistent poverty rose sharply after 2010, to a peak of 9.1% in 2013. The latest SILC 2016 data, released by the CSO in December 2017, indicate that this had reduced to 8.3%. A reduction of 6 percentage points would now be required to meet the 2020 poverty target. The impact of the recovery is not yet fully reflected in these most recent data, which reflect income conditions in 2015-2016. Macro-economic and labour market indicators have shown continued economic and employment growth since then. Unemployment has fallen from 9.4% in mid-2015 to 6.1% towards the end of 2017. The number of people in receipt of working-age income and employment supports has also continued to fall.

In addition, Budget 2018 introduced increases in a range of supports including €5 per week increases in the maximum weekly rate for working-age people and young jobseekers and for pensioners, with proportionate increases for adult dependents and an increase of €2 per child per week for qualified child dependents. These increases will assist those individuals and families who are most in need.

Given the continuing economic recovery and measures introduced in Budgets 2017 and 2018, I expect the figures for 2017 and 2018, when they become available, to show further improvement over the 2016 outcomes. I will continue to work with my Government colleagues to ensure that the economic recovery is experienced in all regions and by all families, households and individuals.

The Government’s strategy for addressing poverty and social exclusion is set out in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. The Plan identifies a wide range of targeted actions and interventions to achieve the overall objective of reducing consistent poverty. My Department is currently reviewing the Plan, with a view to developing an updated plan for future periods. As part of this update, the Department is also reviewing the national social target for poverty reduction. This review will be undertaken in consultation with relevant stakeholders.