Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2026
90. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he will take to reduce the consistent poverty rate to 2% or less; to reduce income inequality; to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive Member States of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46040/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2026-2030, published in May 2026, is the Government’s renewed and ambitious strategy to reduce poverty and improve social inclusion over the next five years.
It builds on the work of the predecessor strategy for 2020-2025 and previous poverty reduction strategies dating from 1997, when Ireland became the first EU Member State to develop such a strategy.
The Roadmap's overarching ambitions are to reduce consistent poverty to 2 per cent or less by the end of 2030, reduce income inequality, and make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the European Union.
To support these ambitions, the Roadmap sets out 63 concrete cross-Government actions.
Recognising that poverty is multi-dimensional and must be addressed across a broad range of areas beyond the remit of one Department alone, these actions span income supports, employment, housing, education, health, transport, childcare and other public and community services.
Significantly, the actions focus on those groups that the data shows are most impacted by poverty and social exclusion - families with children on low income, lone parents, people who are unemployed, disabled people, older people and disadvantaged communities such as Travellers and Roma.
In addition, the Roadmap was informed by a public consultation process that received almost 500 submissions, and by extensive engagement by my Department with other Government Departments and community and voluntary organisations.
Progress under the strategy will be measured against 25 high-level indicators that are derived from published Central Statistics Office and Eurostat data.
This progress will be collated quarterly by my Department and reported on annually in progress reports published on Gov.ie, following their noting by Government.
In addition, a mid term review in 2028 will allow for evaluation of progress and any adjustments required.
Oversight in delivering the Roadmap will be provided through a Steering Group chaired by me personally, with representation from all relevant Government Departments and the community and voluntary sector.
My priority, working with colleagues across Government, is to ensure that the actions in this Roadmap are delivered and translate into real outcomes for individuals, families and communities across Ireland.
