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Minister Burton launches public consultation on the Review of the National Poverty Target

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton today launched a public consultation process to be undertaken by her Department as part of the review of the national poverty target. The purpose of the review is to enable the Government to adopt appropriate and achievable national poverty targets to meet Ireland’s contribution to Europe 2020 and the commitments in the programme for government. The review is to be completed by November 2011.

Minister Burton said:

I am inviting the public to have its say on the review of the national poverty target. It is vital that there is widespread public support for the national poverty target, so that all elements of society are engaged in the common aim of reducing and eliminating poverty. I am particularly keen to hear the views of people experiencing poverty and the groups that work with people in poverty.

The Minister continued:

While Ireland is in the midst of a major economic and fiscal crisis, it is important that we keep in mind the importance of protecting the most vulnerable in society. The national poverty target provides a key reference point in developing economic and social policies. The national poverty target is also the means by which we contribute to the new European poverty target, which aims to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and exclusion by 2020.

A key element of the consultation is to ascertain the views of people experiencing poverty from across the country. In order to do this a series of four workshops in local community venues will take place where people can have their say on the current poverty targets and how a new poverty target can be achieved. These workshops will take place in September next at local venues in Cork, Donegal, Dublin and Galway.

In addition an online survey will be carried out in order to ascertain the views of the public on the current poverty target and how this target can be strengthened in the future. The survey will be hosted on

www.socialinclusion.ie

. It will remain open until 30th September to allow interested parties as much time as is possible to respond.

A report of the consultation process will inform the final report of the review to be presented to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy. The review is being undertaken by the Department of Social Protection.