The Combat Poverty Agency


	Ireland

The Combat Poverty Agency

The Combat Poverty Agency is an Irish state agency that works as a advisory body to the government. Set up under the Combat Poverty Agency Act 1986, it is a small organisation with 21 staff based in Dublin.
The aim of the Combat Poverty Agency is to promote a more just and inclusive society by working for the prevention and elimination of poverty and social exclusion.

The Agency pursues this aim through the four main functions set out in the Combat Poverty Agency Act, 1986:

policy advice;

project support and innovation;

research and public education.

What is Poverty?

People are considered to be living in poverty if their income and resources are so inadequate as to prevent them from enjoying a standard of living, which would be regarded as acceptable by society generally. This understanding of poverty recognises that people have social, cultural and emotional needs, as well as physical and economic needs. Living in poverty is not just about lack of money, it can also mean feeling excluded, isolated, powerless and discriminated against. The Irish government has accepted this multi-dimensional definition of poverty.

Core Understandings

To achieve its aim the Agency is guided by the following understandings:

Poverty is a structural problem in Irish society. National and local policies and programmes are key to the elimination of poverty.

The reduction of inequality and the redistribution of resources and opportunities is essential to combating poverty.

The involvement, empowerment and representation of those affected by poverty is necessary in order to tackle poverty effectively.

Partnership between government and the social partners (including the community and voluntary sector) at both local and national levels is vital for effective anti-poverty policies and programmes.

Tackling poverty involves the promotion of social rights for all.

Policies and programmes to tackle poverty and promote sustainable development should be complementary.

There is a need for policies and programmes at a European level which complement local and national policies to tackle poverty and social exclusion.

Strategic Plan 2002-2004

During the period 2002-2004, Combat Poverty aims to provide leadership in working for the prevention and elimination of poverty and social exclusion through:

Conducting high quality research and innovative initiatives;

Advising policy makers on effective and innovative approaches to prevent and eliminate poverty;

Promoting the results of its work.

In doing this our five strategic objectives are:

To achieve a more comprehensive understanding of poverty and social exclusion, in particular child poverty, so as to inform and influence debate and policy;

To support the effective implementation of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) at national, local and European levels;

To assess and promote effective public services and area-based programmes which tackle poverty and promote peace building;

To strengthen the capacity of the community development sector in tackling poverty;

To propose innovative policies aimed at a more equal distribution of income, resources and employment.

The Agency's Work

Policy Advice

preparing policy proposals to government on aspects of economic and social planning in relation to poverty, e.g. an annual pre-budget submission, responses to green papers, working groups, commissions or task forces, and advice to government departments.

supporting the Government’s National Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Research

fcommissioning and publishing research on poverty related issues

supporting the development of a research infrastructure in Ireland

formulating policy proposals and monitoring policy and provision at national level

providing research and evaluation grants to anti-poverty groups and a fellowship

awards programme to Doctoral level students in Ireland.

Project Support

supporting local community development as an anti-poverty strategy and acting as a national community development resource centre

strengthening the anti-poverty infrastructure and assisting groups to make the link between practice and policy

producing resource materials and supporting training for the community and voluntary sector

supporting an innovative programme to demonstrate integrated responses to educational disadvantage

working with local authorities to enhance the anti-poverty focus of their work.

Information and Public Awareness

developing and disseminating accessible information leaflets and publications

supporting a schools education programme including curriculum development, in-service training for teachers and resource materials

running a drop-in library with a collection of books, videos, and magazines on poverty, community development and related issues

promoting media interest and coverage of poverty and related issues

production of a quarterly journal Poverty Today which is available free of charge

maintaining a web site (www.cpa.ie)

running a grant scheme on poverty related issues.

Peace and Reconciliation

The Combat Poverty Agency is also an intermediary body responsible for administering funds under the EU Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. These funds are to support projects which will counter social exclusion in the border counties of the Republic and which will promote reconciliation within the border counties and on a cross-border basis with Northern Ireland.

This work is done in partnership with Area Development Management Limited (ADM). CPA and ADM jointly support a full time office in the Monaghan, and a team of development workers in the border counties.

More information about this programme is available from:

Peace and Reconciliation Programme,
Europe House, Dublin Road, Monaghan.
Tel +353 047 71340,
Fax: +353 047 71341

More information on the work of the Combat Poverty Agency is available from:

Combat Poverty Agency,
Bridgewater Centre, Conyngham Road, Islandbridge, Dublin8,
Phone: +353 1 6706746
Fax: 6706706
E-mail : info[at]cpa.ie

Web site : www.cpa.ie