There are certain, unfortunate similarities between the terms of the Disabilities Bill, which was withdrawn last week by the Government, and the revised National Anti-Poverty Strategy which was published yesterday. Both documents represent a real advance on established positions but they suffer from imprecise, bureaucratic language that disguises a shortage of specific, immediate targets and absolute political commitments. The main exception to this approach in the National Anti-Poverty Strategy is an undertaking to set €150 per week (in 2002 terms) as the lowest rate of social welfare payment in 2007.
Reducing the number of "consistently poor" people below 2 per cent of the population by 2007, as agreed between the Government and the social partners, is to be welcomed. But delivery on this aspiration will probably fall to the next two governments and success will depend on economic circumstances. In the same way, it is hoped to eliminate long-term unemployment "as soon as circumstances permit, but in any event, not later than 2007". Functional illiteracy in school-leavers is to be halved by 2006. A mix of social and affordable housing is to be built for local authority tenants and emergency accomodation and services provided for rough sleepers by 2004. Guidelines for respite-care services will be devised by 2003.
The Strategy will form part of an EU-wide action plan against poverty and social exclusion. In that regard, the Government has correctly identified the progress made in addressing poverty through rapid economic growth in this State. Unemployment now stands at less than 5 per cent, compared to 10.3 per cent in 1997, and long-term unemployment was down to 1.2 per cent in the latest quarterly figures. During those years of rising living standards for all, social welfare increases outpaced inflation.
The continuation of that benign scenario and delivery of the Anti-Poverty Strategy will depend, however, on future growth. Because of the recent shortfall in tax revenues, the Government says it will have to "consider carefully the allocation of resources to the Strategy, including the issues of prioritisation and phasing of measures and actions". Implementation of a range of subsidiary objectives will depend on the availability of resources.
Launching the document, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, drew attention to the fact that the percentage of the population living in consistent poverty had fallen from 15 per cent in 1996 to just over 6 per cent in the year 2000. That had lifted 400,000 people out of poverty. Consistent poverty was defined as having income and resources so inadequate as to be excluded from a standard of living that was regarded as acceptable by society in general.
There is no doubt progress has been made by the Government in reducing absolute poverty levels and in moving to address the issues of exclusion and marginalisation. In that regard, the target of €150 a week for the lowest level of social-welfare payments by 2007, representing 30 per cent of average industrial earnings, is a significant commitment.