What are the main functions of the Office?

1. Co-ordinating and driving the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 (NAPinclusion) and the social inclusion elements of Towards 2016, the NDP and Ireland's report to the EU on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion (NSSPI). Learn More
2. Monitoring and evaluation of the governments social inclusion strategies outlined at 1 above. Learn More
3. Development of support functions to underpin the process. Learn More
   • Data strategy
   • Poverty Impact Assessment
   • Research
4. Supporting regional and local implementation. Learn More
5. Implementing a communications strategy on social inclusion. Learn More
6. Managing the international dimension of our work. Learn More

1. Co-ordination

Ireland's National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 (NAPinclusion) which was launched in February 2007 sets out a wide-ranging and comprehensive programme of action to address poverty and social exclusion linked closely with Towards 2016 - The National Social Partnership Agreement and the new National Development Plan 2007-2013 (NDP). The NAPinclusion has a strong focus on actions and targets - 12 high level goals and 153 targets and actions aimed at ensuring that a decisive impact on poverty is made over the lifetime of the Plan. By adopting a lifecycle approach the Plan is designed to mobilse resources to address long-standing and serious social deficits. The Office for Social Inclusion (OSI) co-ordinates the process and works closely with all relevant government departments and agencies in this regard.

At the EU level under the Lisbon Agenda, Member States have prepared a series of strategic social inclusion plans since 2000 which identify trends and major challenges in relation to poverty and social exclusion aimed at making a decisive impact on poverty by 2010. These incorporate common objectives agreed at EU level, set key targets from some of those objectives and set out the implementation measures across relevant policy areas to meet the objectives and targets. The process also involves the use of indicators, some agreed at EU level, to measure progress in achieving policy targets. The Office for Social Inclusion also works with relevant Government Departments to co-ordinate this process.

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2. Monitoring and Evaluation

The new strategic framework aims to achieve a more comprehensive and efficient monitoring process. This will ensure that reporting is streamlined, following the framework of Towards 2016 and encompassing the NAPinclusion, Ireland’s social inclusion input to the NSSPI 2006-2008 and the social inclusion aspects of the NDP.

The key element in the social inclusion monitoring and evaluation process will be the preparation by the Office for Social Inclusion, of an annual Social Inclusion Report which will: 

Review progress at each stage of the lifecycle on a systematic basis, drawing together relevant structures and reports, as well as other relevant national strategies (e.g. the forthcoming National Women’s Strategy).All social partners will be consulted in this process;

Provide a detailed assessment of progress achieved towards set targets and actions;

Identify new issues arising and cross-cutting issues, which might benefit from a more coordinated approach; and

Report on stakeholders’ views arising from Partnership, the Social Inclusion Forum and other consultation fora.

The report will be presented to the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, the NDP Monitoring Committee and the Partnership Steering Group which will have an ongoing oversight role in relation to implementation of the lifecycle framework, providing an opportunity for engagement between the social partners in relation to progress under the NAPinclusion, NDP and other relevant strategies within the lifecycle framework.

In developing the annual report, the OSI will work with all stakeholders, at national and local level, drawing on their expertise and experience, with inputs from the Partnership Steering Committee as appropriate. The annual Social Inclusion Forum will continue to serve as a structure for wider public consultation and discussion on social inclusion issues, particularly with those experiencing poverty and social exclusion.

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3. Support Functions

The OSI also has responsibility to develop the following support functions to assist the process:

• Data strategy, work is underway to develop a data strategy, designed to ensure all the necessary data is available for monitoring, evaluation, policy prioritising, targeting and overall policy development. The report on the implementation of the NAPinclusion has identified some of the gaps. (click here for further information on the OSI Data Strategy)

• Poverty Impact Assessment , a review of the guidelines to evaluate policies for their impact on reducing and eliminating poverty has taken place and amended guidelines are now available (click here for latest update on the guidelines). Work is ongoing in this area, including increased co-ordination with similar processes, such as gender and equality proofing in consultation with the Equality Authority, the Combat Poverty Agency and other interested bodies. This work was completed in 2005 and the new Poverty Impact Assessment guidelines, including examples, are now available.
• Research, A number of organisations are to the fore developing research on the nature and causes of poverty and social exclusion in today's society and on the effectiveness of the policies and programmes designed to meet these challenges(click here for list of OSI funded and related research). The OSI will continue to ensure that relevant research is commissioned and disseminated and that it informs policy decision-making. The Combat Poverty Agency has a statutory remit to undertake and promote research on the nature, causes and extent of poverty in Ireland. Information on the Agency's research programme is available at http://www.combatpoverty.ie/research/index.htm

The OSI works closely with various agencies including the Combat Poverty Agency and the Economic and Social Research Institute, the Central Statistics Office, the Family Support Agency, the National Children’s Office and the Equality Authority in developing these support functions.

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4. Regional and Local Implementation

Many of the measures to combat poverty are implemented at regional and local level. Effective implementation requires co-ordination to ensure that local variations on the nature, extent and causes of poverty are taken into account in both policy design and implementation. The office is working with the Department of the Environment, Housing and Local Government, the Department of Health and Children, other Departments with regional and local structures, and with the Combat Poverty Agency, to develop a more effective focus on the regional and local implementation of the NAP/inclusion.

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5. Communications and Consultation

Tackling poverty is not just a task for the State, but for society as a whole. There is a need, in the first instance, for effective communication on the trends and challenges in relation to poverty, and on the ongoing process for tackling it. This communication must involve all those within the governmental system, the Social Partners, the community and voluntary sector, the academic and research communities, the media, the wider public and, above all, the people experiencing poverty themselves. A communications strategy to meet this need has been developed.

There is a similar need for effective consultation on all aspects of the process with key stakeholders. Institutional arrangements to facilitate and promote the necessary consultations are in place.

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6. International Dimension

The eradication of poverty is a major priority at international level. There is much to be learned from the experience of other countries in tackling this common challenge, and from the policy analysis and research findings of the international organisations. Officials of the OSI participate in the work of relevant Committees of the EU, the Council of Europe, the OECD and the UN. OSI also participates in the new EU PROGRESS Programme 2007-2013 to combat poverty and social  exclusion, full details of which can be found on the European Commission website at http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_inclusion/geninfo_en.htm#progress  The OSI also participates in the work of the Social Inclusion strand of the British-Irish Council.

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