1. EAPN 2010 Seminar 29th May 2009 Paul Ginnell – EAPN Ireland
Irish National Anti-Poverty Strategies the social/ Economic Crisis and 2010
EAPN 2010 Seminar - Brussels 29th May 09

2. Two National Action Plans for Social Inclusion
1. National Focus- Started in 1997.
Current Plan –
overall aim ‘reduce consistent poverty to between 2% and 4% by 2012, with the aim of eliminating it by 2016’
12 High level targets
over 100 lower priority targets
2. OMC Social Inclusion
4 Objectives
Linked to National Plan

3. Infrastructure Institutions
Cabinet Committee – Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Chairs
Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion
New Government Division
Office for Social Inclusion
Combat Poverty Agency
Local Infrastructure
EAPN 2010 Seminar - Brussels 29th May 09

4. Monitoring and Implementation
Infrastructure
Monitoring and Implementation
Social Inclusion Forum
Annual Social Inclusion Reports
Poverty Impact Assessment
Social Partnership
EAPN 2010 Seminar - Brussels 29th May 09

5. Strengths Infrastructrure in place Targets Social Inclusion Forum
Minimum Income targets
Overall Poverty levels reducing
Social Inclusion Forum

6. Weaknesses Impact of 2 NAP Incl. processes Invisibility of OMC
Consultation +/-
Some targets unmet –
no relative poverty target
Poverty levels for some groups – unemployed, lone parent family, children etc.
Poverty Impact Assessment
Political Commitment-
Economic v’s social
No real vision

7. Social and Economic Crisis
Unemployment
Irish Government Budget Deficit
Projections from April 2009
Spending - €65 billion
income - €34 billion
Social welfare - €21 billion and growing
Mar 08
Mar 09
EU 27
7.2%
8.9%
Ireland
5.2%
10.6%
Lithuania
4.3%
15.5%
Latvia
6.1%
16.1%
Spain
9.5
17.4%
Source: Eurostat, 30 April 2009

8. Impact on Poverty and Social Inclusion
Cover to dismantle equality/anti-poverty/anti-racism/human rights infrastructure
Cuts in services – especially health and education
Threat to social welfare levels – reductions in cover for some groups
Increased tax burden on low paid
Proposed changes in work permit system form non EU migrants
However
Little impact on NRSPSI
Officially targets have not changed

9. EAPN 2010 Submissions
Reviewing current strategies including targets and data
minimum income
distribution of wealth
child poverty
access to services
poverty social exclusion and equality
human rights
social solidarity pact
Local engagement
political education
political leadership and accountability

10. 2010 EAPN Ireland Priorities and Legacies (provisional)
Protecting existing social welfare levels – carrying out comparative research and developing arguments
Creating public awareness of poverty - addressing stigma and involving communities
Participation – consultation: Review of national Social Inclusion Forum
Communicating benefits of more equal and fair society

11. 2010 EU level legacies poverty reduction targets
minimum social standards

12. Challenges of Crisis Reality of less Government resources
Crisis used to lower social expectations
Protecting the most vulnerable
Not just in word
Active Inclusion
Understanding and not repeating mistakes of the past