Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1115. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025; the number of its commitments that have been achieved to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29707/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 - 2025 is a whole of Government strategy that aims to reduce poverty and make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the EU.  The Roadmap contains seven high level goals with 22 specific targets, which will be delivered by 66 unique commitments.  

I am pleased that the first Progress Report of the Roadmap was published in January 2022 and sets out progress towards the Roadmap goals for the period January 2020 to September 2021.  It is accompanied by a Report Card detailing progress on each of the Roadmap commitments.  The Progress Report and Report Card are available on the Department of Social Protection pages on gov.ie.

Implementation of Roadmap commitments is underway with a number of commitments fully achieved or close to completion and with work ongoing in relation to a number of other commitments.  This was achieved against a challenging backdrop with many Departments having to redirect resources during 2020 and 2021 to address the range of social, health, community and economic consequences arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

By the end of September 2021:

- 21 of the 69 Roadmap commitments were fully achieved or achieved with ongoing delivery;

- A further 4 commitments were in progress on schedule with ongoing delivery;

- 37 commitments were in progress, with delivery on some delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;

- Work on 5 commitments had yet to commence; and

- 2 were deferred due to the pandemic.

Commitments that have been delivered over the first 21 months of the Roadmap include:

- The introduction of an additional three weeks of Parent’s Leave and Parent’s Benefit are available to each parent of a child born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019 (bringing the total to five weeks).  Budget 2022 includes the introduction of an additional 2 weeks, which will bring the total to 7 weeks in 2022.

- The extension of the Hot School Meals programme in 2021, with 189 schools, including 171 DEIS schools, receiving funding under the programme.

- The allocation of €5m to the Department of Social Protection under the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2020 to Support and Improve Employment Opportunities for Carers and Persons with a Disability, with funding in excess of €2.3 million awarded to 17 projects in December 2020.

- The establishment of the Labour Market Advisory Council, which plays a key role in advising the Minister and the Government on public policy responses to support the labour market recovery.

- The inclusion in Budgets 2021 and 2022 of specific welfare measures to support working families on low incomes such as improvements in the core weekly rates of payment and the Working Family Payment, and targeted increases in payments for children. 

- The publication of national strategies which will support the delivery of Roadmap commitments including:

- The Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2020-2024 "Transforming Learning" in July 2020;

- National Volunteering Strategy 2021-2025 in December 2020;

- Our Rural Future - the Rural Development policy 2021-2025 in March 2021;

- Pathways to Work Strategy 2021-2025 in July 2021;

- Adult Literacy for Life: 10–year Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy in September 2021; and

- ‘Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland’ in September 2021.

It is expected that the second Progress Report and Report Card will be published shortly.  These will detail progress made in relation to Roadmap commitments over the whole of 2021.