POVERTY IMPACT ASSESSMENT IRELAND’S EXPERIENCE Gerry Mangan POVERTY IMPACT ASSESSMENT IRELAND’S EXPERIENCE Gerry Mangan

Context Ireland joined the European Union in 1973 By the early 1990s average GDP was still just 60% of the EU average Ireland’s first ten year National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) This incorporated a commitment to Poverty Impact Assessment (PIA)

Poverty Impact Assessment in 1997 NAPS “the question of the impact of poverty will also be a key consideration when decisions are being made about spending priorities in the context of the national budgetary process and the allocation of EU Structural Funds”

Definition of PIA “ a process by which government departments, local authorities and State agencies assess policies and programmes at design, implementation and review stages in relation to the likely impact that they will have or have had on poverty and on inequalities which are likely to lead to poverty with a view to poverty reduction”

PIA consolidation 1998 Requirement in Cabinet Handbook that Memorandum for the Government involving significant policy proposals ‘indicate clearly the impact of the proposal on groups in poverty or at risk of falling into poverty’ 1998 Department of Social and Family Affairs issue first guidelines on poverty proofing

Key elements of a PIA Definition of policy aims and targets Formal consultation Assessment of the impacts and consideration of alternatives Decision making and monitoring

Impacts and difficulties Key impact has been raising awareness of poverty among policymakers and other stakeholders Difficulty in trying to distinguish the actual impact PIA had on policy from other factors

Need for a detailed assessment of the impact of virtually all policy areas on poverty Further significant development and resources in rolling out PIA Issues for the future