Towards 2016 - Second Progress Report
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PART ONE
Since the First Progress Report, a number of key national strategies have been published by Government, including: a new Statement of Housing Policy, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities; the White Paper on Energy Policy Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland 2007-2020; the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012; theNational Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016, and the National Women’s Strategy 2007-2016. Progress on these and other issues is outlined briefly below.
CHAPTER II. Enhancing Ireland’s Competitive Advantage in a Changing World Economy
1. Better Regulation – The Statute Law Revision Act was signed into law by the President on 8 May 2007. The Act repealed 3,225 obsolete statutes enacted before 6 December 1922 and retained, through a “white list”, 1,364 statutes. (Section 4)
2. Manufacturing Sector – The allocations of €43m and €27m to FÁS and Skillnets respectively will allow for a significant expansion in development programmes for managers and workers. The Chairman of the High-Level Group will make a presentation to the Towards 2016 Steering Group on the 12th July on its work to date. (Section 7)
3. Infrastructure and Planning – The lead local authorities in each NSS Gateway have been invited to submit proposals for funding under the NDP Gateway Innovation Fund, which is providing €100m p.a. between 2008-2010.The Department of Finance will be contacting the social partners shortly in relation to the establishment of the NDP Monitoring Committee. (Section 9)
4. Transport 21 – The total Transport 21 allocation for 2007 is €2,290 million. All key projects are progressing well to date, with expenditure of nearly €600m to the end of May. The opening of the new Docklands station has enabled the introduction of extra services on the Maynooth line. Work has commenced on the Kildare rail line upgrade project. Work is complete or underway on nearly 75% of the inter-urban motorways (linking Dublin to Belfast, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford), and the M1 motorway to the Border is due for completion in August 2007. (Section 11)
5. Housing Policy and Framework– Government launched its new statement of Housing Policy Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, in February 2007. The policy statement strongly endorses the vision of better quality housing in sustainable communities as set out in Towards 2016. NDP funding (€21 billion over 2007-2013) will allow for commencement or acquisition of some 27,000 new social homes, and delivery of some 17,000 affordable homes, in the initial 2007-2009 period. Government has approved the drafting of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 2007, which will underpin a programme of social housing reforms aimed at improving services, and their fair and efficient delivery. (Section 13)
6. Energy Policy – The White Paper on Energy Policy was published in March 2007. It describes the actions and targets for the energy policy framework to 2020 to support economic growth and meet the needs of all consumers. The Paper sets a clear path for meeting the Government’s goals of ensuring safe and secure energy supplies, promoting a sustainable energy future, and supporting competitiveness. The legal framework for the Single Electricity Market has gone active from 3 July 2007. This is the main preparatory step to the start of trading planned for 1 November 2007. (Section 15)
7. Telecommunications– Agreement has been reached between ComReg, Eircom and the industry on issues which were impeding the development of local loop unbundling, most of which are to be implemented by the end of September 2007. The Department has initiated the procurement process for the National Broadband Scheme, and it is anticipated that the contract will be awarded by the end of the year. (Section 16)
8. Environmental Sustainability–Government published therevised National Climate Change Strategy in April 2007. The Strategy details how Ireland will meet its 2008-2012 commitments, shows how these measures position us for the post-2012 period, and identifies areas in which further measures are being researched and developed to enable us to meet our eventual 2020 commitment. (Section 18)
9. A Competitive and Profitable Agri-Food Sector – Exchequer funding of €196m has been provided in 2007 for agriculture related training, R&D and food promotion. €14 million is being made available over the period 2007-2009 to encourage farmers to grow energy crops, and in February 2007, a new Bioenergy Scheme was introduced on a pilot basis. (Section 20)
10. Ireland’s National Reform Programme– The annual exchange of views with the European Commission on Ireland’s NRP will take place on 18 July 2007, including engagement with the social partners. (Section 25)
CHAPTER III. The Lifecycle Framework
Children
11. Early Childhood Development and Care – Work is underway on the development of a National Childcare Training Strategy, which will encompass the adoption of sectoral standards, mapping of training and qualifications of those currently in the sector, and the future skills needs of the sector. (Section 30.2.1)
12. Improving Education Outcomes – 400 additional Youthreach places were allocated in April 2007, with another 600 to be allocated over the next two years. The formal Standards for the Assessment of Need, prepared jointly by the health and education sectors,were published in May 2007. (Section 30.2.2)
13. Children and their Families – The periods of paid and unpaid maternity leave have been extended to 26 weeks and 16 weeks respectively with effect from 1 March 2007, and corresponding increases have also been made to adoptive leave. (Section 30.2.6)
People of Working Age
14. Access to Employment – A High Level Group on Activation has been set up to progress the activation of client groups. (Section 31.2.2)
15. Caring Responsibilities – Budget 2007 increased the earnings disregard in the carer’s allowance means test to €640 per week for a couple from April 2007. This measure surpasses the commitment in Towards 2016 to ensure that those on the average industrial earnings can continue to qualify for a full carer’s allowance. (Section 31.2.5)
16. Equality/Equal Opportunities – The National Women’s Strategy 2007-2016 was launched on the 18th April, 2007. It sets out 20 key objectives and over 200 actions to address all facets of women’s lives. The NDP includes funding of €127m to implement the Strategy. Letters will issue to the social partners shortly in relation to the establishment of the National Women’s Strategy Coordinating Committee. (Section 31.2.7)
17. Integration of Migrant Communities – A Minister of State has recently been appointed with special responsibility for integration policy, and a range of strategic studies to inform policy development in this area are underway. The studies are being reinforced by a series of stakeholder dialogues taking place throughout the year. (Section 31.4.1)
Older People
18. Housing and Accommodation – The review of the housing adaptation grants for older people, and people with a disability, has been completed and a revised framework of grant aid is being put in place. (Section 32.2.3)
19. Ensuring Mobility – Addressing transport related social exclusion is a basic principle of the newnew Rural Transport Programme (RTP), and the provision of transport services for older people and people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments is a core element of the RTP. The RTP has been allocated significantly increased funding (€9m in 2007, compared with €4.5m in 2005 and €5.1m in 2006), and it is intended to extend the RTP on a phased basis to ensure nation-wide rural coverage. (Section 32.2.4)
People with Disabilities
20. The National Disability Strategy – Part 2 of the Disability Act commenced for children aged less than 5 years with effect from 1 June 2007. (Section 33.2)
21. National Standards for Health Services– Statutory responsibility for the introduction of national standards for disability services now rests with HIQA following the passing of the Health Act 2007. (Section 33.3)
CHAPTER IV. Implementation Arrangements
22. Developing the Lifecycle Approach –NAPinclusion2007-2016, published in February 2007, has a strong emphasis on services and activation as a means of tackling social exclusion, and contains an overall poverty elimination goal, 12 high-level strategic goals, and 153 targets and actions spanning all lifecycle stages.
23. Integrating Delivery at Local Level –Applications from the county and city councils for the establishment of new social inclusion units are currently being considered by the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government, and recommendations will be submitted to the Minister shortly.
PART TWO
Chapter IX. Public Service Modernisation
24. OECD Review of the Irish Public Service– Public consultation is ongoing until 31 July, and each social partner pillar has been formally invited to make a submission. The pillars have also met with the Review team. The Review is expected to be completed by end 2007.
Linked Files:
To view and print PDF files, a viewer program called Acrobat Reader Version is required. A free copy of this Adobe Reader can be downloaded from the
Adobe Website