Briefing: National Action Plan from Social Inclusion (NAP Inclusion)

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1 Briefing: National Action Plan from Social Inclusion (NAP Inclusion) A. Background Ireland currently has two National Action Plans for Social Inclusion which have different origins and structures. However, both are linked with a lot of similarity in content and targets. The targets and actions outlined in both strategies were agreed as part of the Social Partnership discussions in 2006 and are outlined in the agreement Towards The National Action Plan for Social Inclusion (NAP Inclusion) contains greater detail than the Irish National Report on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion (NSSPSI) which has been developed as part of the EU inclusion strategy. However, both are significant and the fact that the NSSPSI is part of a coordinated process at EU level is important. The Social Inclusion chapter of the National Development Plan (NDP) outlines budgets for social inclusion actions which links back to both strategies. The National Women s Strategy is also linked to the NAP Inclusion. This briefing aims to introduce the social inclusion plans and outline their content as well as providing some information to support anti-poverty and social inclusion groups to engage with them. By accessing this briefing on line at it is possible to make links to relevant documents. B. Introduction to the Plans info@eapn.ie July The EU Social Inclusion Strategy i. Background In 2000 following a decision of the European Council (Heads of State) in Lisbon the EU initiated its own Social Inclusion Strategy. This aims to make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty by The EU agreed Objectives for achieving this overall aim and based on EU Guidelines each Member State produces multi-annual social inclusion strategies to achieve these objectives. This process is called the Open Method of Co-ordination (OMC). Ireland produced National Action Plans Against Poverty and Social Exclusion (NAP Inclusion) for and /6. In 2005 as part of the revision of the Lisbon Strategy the EU added the social inclusion and social protection (pensions, health and long term-care) processes together and now Member States have to produce National Reports on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion (NSSPSI). Social inclusion is a distinct chapter in these Reports. The current report for Ireland is the NSSPSI The social inclusion process is part of the wider Lisbon Strategy (or Agenda) which includes economic and in 2001 environmental objectives and by 2010 aims to make the EU the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world capable of sustaining more and better jobs and with greater social cohesion. Because social policy is still mainly the responsibility of member states, rather than the EU, the Social Inclusion Strategy is held together by an "Open Method of Coordination". This involves involving: common Objectives agreed at EU level 2/3 yearly national action plans in each country to implement these objectives a Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion (previously called the Joint Inclusion Report or JIR) which analyses the plans from the 15 member states by theme and by country a system of 'peer review', involving scrutiny of the national plans and exchange of examples of good practice. In 2004 the Irish Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) was the focus of a Peer Review and in November 2007 the NESF run National Social Inclusion Forum will be the focus. development of a number of common indicators to measure progress.

2 ii. The EU Objectives Common Objectives for Social Protection and Social Inclusion are: a) To promote social cohesion, equality between men and women and equal opportunities for all through adequate, accessible, financially sustainable, adaptable and efficient social protection systems and social inclusion policies. b) To promote effective and mutual interaction between the Lisbon objectives of greater economic growth, more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, and with the EU s Sustainable Development Strategy. c) To promote good governance, transparency and the involvement of stakeholders in the design, implementation and monitoring of policy. The Social Inclusion Objectives are: -to make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty and social exclusion by ensuring: i. access for all to the resources, rights and services needed for participation in society, preventing and addressing exclusion, and fighting all forms of discrimination leading to exclusion, ii. the active social inclusion of all, both by promoting participation in the labour market and by fighting poverty and social exclusion; iii. that social inclusion policies are well-coordinated and involve all levels of government and relevant actors, including people experiencing poverty, that they are efficient and effective and mainstreamed into all relevant public policies, including economic, budgetary, education and training policies and structural fund (notably ESF) programmes. EU Guidelines advised each Member State to outline 3-4 policy priorities and to give detailed targets and budgets for achieving these. iii. Ireland s NSSPSI National Strategy for Social Inclusion Four Social Inclusion Policy Objectives: 1. Child Poverty 2. Access to quality work and learning opportunities (Activation measures) 3. Integration of immigrants 4. Access to quality services Annex 2.2 of the Plan outlines a range of targets for each objective. These are also outlined in the social partnership agreement Towards 2016 and are the same as in the NAP Inclusion (see below). iv. Some issues raised in the EU Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion for Ireland General Streamlining of the NAP Inclusion, NDP and Towards 2016 seen as positive as well as the new national social inclusion report. Highlights weakness of lack of explicit targets in relation to poverty reduction States that high risk of poverty levels are a reflection of social welfare system and that the continued levels of inequality must be a matter for concern. Notes: i. public social expenditure at 15.5% of GDP is considerable below EU average of 23.4% and ii. the increasing prevalence of people in employment at risk of poverty. Specifically Generally positive regarding the 4 objectives Need for more flexible approach to training and education provision (e.g. childcare provision and start times) Employment disincentives in the welfare system as a serious issue Lack of clear targets on migration Highlights that Towards 2016 Lifecycle approach is gender-blind diminishing the visibility of gender mainstreaming and lack of specific targets in the NSSPI. Challenges Sustained investment in service provision (esp. childcare and eldercare) Addressing high proportion of at risk of poverty and high level of income inequalities. Repeats concern over lack of targets for poverty reduction.- Hopes to see this addressed in Irish NAP Inclusion.

3 2. National Action Plan for Social Inclusion i. Background In 1997 the Government produced the National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) This was in response to a UN Summit in Copenhagen. Due to strong economic growth after 1997 and great progress being made in achieving the 10-year targets set in 1997 the NAPS was revised in 2002 and targets were updated. Chief among these was to reduce consistent poverty to 2% or if possible eliminate it by In February 2007 the Government published a new Strategy called the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion (NAP Inclusion) with new targets on some areas. It is in the structure of the Lifecycle framework. ii. Commitments (a). The Overall Poverty Goal: to reduce the number of those experiencing consistent poverty to between 2% and 4% by 2012, with the aim on eliminating consistent poverty by 2016, under the revised definition. (b). 12 High Level Goals Spread across five policy areas. Children Goal 1: Education Ensure that targeted pre-school education is provided to children from urban primary school communities covered by the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) action Plan Goal 2: Education Reduce the proportion of pupils with serious literacy difficulties in primarily schools serving disadvantaged communities. The target is to halve the proportion from the current 27%-30% to less that 15% by Goal 3: Education Work to ensure that the proportion of the population aged completing upper second level education or equivalent will exceed 90% by Goal 4: Income Support Maintain the combined value of child income support measures at 33%- 35% of the minimum adult social welfare payment rate over the course of this Plan and review child income supports aimed at assisting children in families on low income. People of Working Age Goal 5: Employment Introduce and active case management approach that will support those on long-term social welfare into education, training and employment. The target is to support 50,000 such people, including lone parents and the long-term unemployed, with an overall aim of reducing by 20% the number of those whose total income is derived from long-term social welfare payments by This target will be reviewed in the light of experience. Goal 6: Income Support Maintain the relative value of the lowest social welfare rate at least at , in 2007 terms, over the course of this plan, subject to available resources. Older People Goal 7: Community Care Continue to increase investment in community care services for older people, including home care packages and enhanced day care services, to support them to live independently in the community for as long as possible. The overall structure reflects the Lifecycle Approach to policy which was first outlined by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) in its report on the Developmental Welfare State in 2005 and taken up by the Government as the structure for Towards This focuses on the development of social policy under four areas i.e. young people, people of working age, older people and people with disabilities. Communities is added in the NAP Inclusion to cover a range of cross cutting areas not addressed under a lifecycle framework.

4 Goal 8: Income Support Maintain a minimum payment rate of 200 per week, in 2007 terms, for all social welfare pensions over the course of this Plan, and, if possible, having regard to available resources and the Government s commitment in Towards 2016, to enhance this provision. The overall pension structures and system to provide income supports for pensioners will be reviewed in the light of forthcoming Green Paper on Pensions, to be finalised at end March This will review all the pillars of pension provision. People with Disabilities Goal 9: Employment and Participation Increase the employment of people with disabilities who do not have a difficulty in retaining a job. The immediate objective is to have an additional 7,000 of that cohort in employment by The longer term target is to raise the employment rate of people with disabilities from 37% to 45% by 2016 as measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey. The overall participation rate in education, training and employment will be increased by 50% by These targets will be reviewed in the light of experience and the availability of better data. Communities Goal 10: Housing - Deliver high quality housing for those who cannot afford to meet their own housing needs and to underpin the building of sustainable communities. An important element will be the enhanced housing output reflected in Towards 2016, which will result in the accommodation needs of some 60,000 new households being addressed over the period 2007 to This will embrace meeting special housing needs (the homeless, Travellers, older people and people with disabilities). Goal 11: Health Develop 500 primary care teams by 2011 which will improve access to services in the community, with particular emphasis on meeting the needs of holders of medical cards. Goal 12: Integration of Migrants - Develop a strategy aimed at achieving the integration of newcomers in our society. As an initial action, resources for the provision of 550 teachers for language supports in the education sector will be provided by 2009 and access to other public services through translation of information and supports will be improved. (c) Other Commitments There are also other targets and commitments under each of the 5 headings. The following areas are covered under the Communities Chapter: Services - Housing - Homelessness - Carers - Travellers - Migrants - Transport - Library Services Innovative Measures - Active Citizenship - Fuel Poverty - Broadband - Sport - Arts and Culture - E-Inclusion - Dormant Accounts Fund - Financial Inclusion Community Based Programmes - CLAR - Rural Development Programme (incl. LEADER) - Gaeltacht and Island Communities - Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) - Community Development Programme - RAPID - Community Services Programme - Joint Policing Committee - Family Support Services - National Drugs Strategy

5 iii. Institutional Structures A number of Structures are in place to support the NAP Inclusion (See: Annex 4/5 NAP Inclusion). These are: Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion (Drugs and Rural Development) Oireachtas Committees Social and Family Affairs Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion Towards 2016 Partnership Steering Group Office for Social inclusion National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) Includes NESF, NESC and NCPP NDP Monitoring Committee Combat Poverty Agency Local Government Social Inclusion Steering Group County/City Development Boards and other local structures Social inclusion units in government departments and on a phased basis in half of all county/city local authorities by the end of 2008 Social Inclusion Forum Community and Voluntary Sector Technical Advisory Group (Data Strategy) EU Social Protection Committee iv. Annual Social Inclusion Report This is a new report to be prepared by the Office for Social Inclusion (OSI) drawing from other relevant structures, reports and national strategies. It will: i. be an assessment of progress towards set targets and actions under lifecycle approach; ii. identify new issues which might benefit from a more co-ordinated approach; and iii. report on stakeholders views. N.B. In developing the report OSI is to consult all social partners and work with all stakeholders at national and local level. v. Other Key Elements i. Poverty Impact Assessment (Poverty Proofing) Stated aim in the NAP Inclusion is to assess policies and programmes at design, implementation and review stages for their likely impact on poverty and on inequalities which are likely to lead to poverty with a view to poverty reduction. In place for a number of years and re-developed in 2005 ii. Technical Advisory Group This Group is to guide the Poverty measurement and Data Strategy which aims to address the lack of sufficient data to measure poverty and social exclusion and progress being made in addressing it. vi. Delivery is through the following structures at national and local level National Government Departments and Agencies Office of the Minister for Children Activation High Level Group Local Government Social Inclusion Steering Group New mechanisms to improve coordination and delivery of housing (national/local) Local County Childcare Committees Local Authorities - Social inclusion strategies - Working with CDB and RAPID - Expanding role re. social capital, active citizenship, community development (in line with competency of local government) Local partnership structures Affirms role of CDB as key co-ordination mechanism for public service delivery (incl. social inclusion) Senior Officials Group to review local programmes to reduce duplication and improve coherence at local level.

6 C. How can we Engage with NAP Inclusion? Being clear on issues and demands Know what has been promised (in each or relevant area) NSSPSI and NAP incl. Read alongside NDP (esp. social Inclusion chapter) and Towards 2016 Monitoring Implementation (national) Social Partnership Ensuring engagement with Annual SI Report Developing ways of monitoring Social Inclusion Forum 15th November Lobbying TDs and Officials Local Level Implementation Engagement with County/City Development Boards Local Anti-Poverty Strategies Monitoring Implementation e.g. health, employment (activation), housing/accommodation, transport, childcare, education/literacy etc. Ensuring understanding of poverty and Social Inclusion among agencies Lobby local elected representatives and local officials Networking with local and national anti-poverty organisations Learn from other countries EU Joint Inclusion Report use European Commission s comments Statistics - comparisons with other countries are useful in making arguments D. Useful Links EAPN Ireland NAPincl webpage: Combat Poverty Agency: Office for Social Inclusion: European Commission Social Inclusion webpage: EAPN Contact Details: 5 Gardiner Row, Dublin 1; Tel : ; Fax: ; info@eapn.ie Website: