Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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228. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her response to the campaign from an organisation (details supplied) highlighting the UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. [54097/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty, held annually on October 17^th, is an important reminder that many people, both internationally and in Ireland, continue to live in poverty.

In Ireland each year there are a series of events to mark the meaning of the day on or around the 17^thof October. The day is promoted in Ireland by the 17 October Committee and All Together in Dignity (ATD) Ireland through banners, liaising with interested groups and an annual event that takes place at the Famine Memorial on the quay in Dublin.

Each year my Department provides grants, up to the maximum value of €3,000 per project, for proposals related to the UN Day for the eradication of poverty and its specific theme ‘Respecting the Dignity of all Humanity: End Persistent Poverty’.

Anti-poverty organisations and groups were invited to apply for funding to organise local, regional or national activities to promote the day, with the application process running from 22 July to 19 August.

Following a review of applications, my Department approved funding for 16 initiatives to raise awareness of the Day, the successful applicants covered a wide spectrum and include local community groups, charities and groups representing specific cohorts across Ireland. Projects took various forms, including workshops, community art exhibitions, promotional videos and photoshoots.

Among the initiatives approved for funding was a project undertaken by the Family Resource Centre St Michael's Estate Dublin to highlight the impact of fuel poverty and the choices those living in poverty have to make every day. This project took the form of a double-sided postcard that was then distributed throughout Dublin 8 and surrounding areas.

As Minister of State with responsibility for social inclusion in the Department of Social Protection, I have a strong interest in addressing all forms of poverty and I am fully aware that fuel poverty is a particular concern for many people as we head into this winter.

I was therefore pleased to see the recent post budget analysis by the ESRI that shows the Government’s approach in Budget 2023 to insulating households from the recent rise in energy prices has been effective.

I particularly welcome that the ESRI’s research shows that one-off cost of living measures, introduced as part of the Budget, will substantially cushion real incomes against the rise in the cost of living.

All initiatives that my Department provided funding towards will submit activity reports in the coming period that will provide further details on each specific project. I look forward to receiving all such reports, including that of St Michael's Family Resource Centre.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to the organisers of last Monday's event and to each of the groups that have arranged events and activities to highlight this important day.