Anti-poverty group demands change in Government policy

The country’s leading anti-poverty agency has demanded a complete change in the Government's attitude if Ireland is to meet its targets in reducing poverty.

Combat Poverty has called for a systematic reform of the way official policies are put into action.

Director Helen Johnston says called for better co-ordination between state and local agencies who are working to improve people's lives.

“Poverty should be on everyone's agenda,” said Johnson. “So each department dealing with education, housing, social welfare and social justice should ask what is the poverty or the social inclusion dimension of what we're doing and how can we link with a different agency who is doing a similar thing.”