Government unveils social inclusion plan

The Government has revealed details of a new social inclusion plan designed to eliminate poverty within a decade.

The National Action Plan for Social Inclusion - Building an Inclusive Societywas launched today by  Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Tánaiste Michael McDowell and Minister for Social and Family Affairs Seamus Brennan.

It vows to reduce numbers in consistent poverty to 2 per cent by 2012 and eliminate it completely by 2016. Latest figures show that 7 per cent - or almost 300,000 people - were ranked as living in poverty in Ireland.

The last such plan, introduced in 1997, aimed to reduce consistent poverty to 2 per cent by 2007.

The plan is the third and final element of the Government's overall strategy for social inclusion which also includes provisions in the Towards 2016 wage deal and the National Development Plan.

It contains a package on education, childcare and pledges to dramatically improve literacy levels in disadvantaged areas. Other focus areas are community care, housing output, primary care and the integration of immigrants.

It also includes €50 million of incentives to support 50,000 long-term unemployed - in particular lone parents - to join the workforce. Overall, it aims to reduce by 20 per cent the number of people whose total income is derived from long-term social welfare payments by 2016.

"This plan underlines the Government's commitment to building a fully-inclusive society," Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said. "We've put a lot of work and effort into this.

"With Towards 2016 and the National Development Plan, we now have in place an ambitious agenda for social change which will enable us to make a decisive impact on poverty in the years ahead."

Mr Brennan said the action plan will help build a society where "everybody has the opportunity and the inventive to share in the benefits of economic and social development."

Mr Brennan said that he planned to replace the lone parents allowance with an employment development allowance which will encourage education, training and employment. "Up to 80,000 lone parents are trapped and need support to find employment to improve their quality of life."