Govt social plan 'lacks ambition'

Community and anti-poverty workers have described the government’s latest National Action Plan for Social Inclusion as ‘disappointing and lacking in ambition’.

This follows a series of seminars conducted around the country by the European Anti Poverty Network to review the plan, launched earlier this year, and assess its value in addressing the problems of poverty and social exclusion in Ireland.

Acting Co-ordinator Paul Ginnell said: “Over a hundred people working in the area of community development and anti-poverty attended a series of seminars organised on the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion held across the country over the last week.

“One of the things that came most clearly out of the seminars was a sense that the needs of migrant workers and asylum seekers have been ignored in the plan.

“There were other concerns expressed about the lack of supports in the area of childcare. While the government’s efforts in providing support for the construction of new childcare facilities was rightly acknowledged, there is no similar level of support for the hiring of staff or training of childcare managers.

“The EAPN does welcome the positive elements in the new plan, and the fact that the government is clearly wedded to a process of addressing social exclusion. The commitments around provision of extra language support teachers, more social housing and the roll-out of primary healthcare teams for example, were warmly acknowledged.

"They hope they will now be given the opportunity to participate in discussions to improve and build on the plan over its lifespan," he added.