Greens expect Cabinet row over poverty reduction plan

State must look at base rate of social welfare and a raft of other changes to reduce consistent poverty to 2%, says minister

Joe O'Brien is expected to tell the Oireachtas committee on social protection that the Government must make good on its aim to drive down the consistent poverty rate to the lowest it has ever been.  File Picture

A government minister says the State must look at the base rate of social welfare and a raft of other changes to reduce consistent poverty to 2%.

Joe O'Brien, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, is expected to tell the Oireachtas committee on social protection tomorrow that the Government must make good on its programme for government commitment, which aims to drive down the consistent poverty rate to the lowest it has ever been.