Poverty Impact Assessment (PIA)

Poverty Impact Assessment is the 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.

Poverty Proofing, as Poverty Impact Assessment was formerly known, was introduced in 1998 as a result of a commitment in the original National Anti-Poverty Strategy. Since that time it has been a requirement in the Cabinet Handbook that Memoranda for Government involving significant policy proposals “indicate clearly the impact of the proposal on groups in poverty or at risk of falling into poverty”. Guidelines to assist government departments in carrying out poverty proofing exercises were circulated in 1999.

The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) carried out a review of the poverty proofing process in 2001 and recommended a number of improvements. The Office for Social Inclusion (OSI), drawing largely on this NESC review and on a further process of consultation, has now developed a new set of guidelines for Poverty Impact Assessment. The change of name seeks to make it clear that the assessment of impacts of policies on poverty should form an inherent part of the policy making process, rather than an exercise which takes place after a policy has been adopted.

The new guidelines are being introduced initially in government departments and can be modified in the light of experience of their use in this area. It is then intended that the guidelines will be introduced in the wider public service.

The guidelines will also be updated from time to time with new examples or learning in the area of best practice. Comments regarding the guidelines are very welcome and can be sent to the Office for Social Inclusion (OSI) at osi@welfare.ie.

Below are links to the new revised guidelines for Poverty Impact Assessment and to the OSI report of this revision process. Links are also provided to the poverty impact assessment template which will provide assistance in carrying out a PIA and also some frequently asked questions on PIA. There is also a link available to a selection of worked examples of Poverty Impact Assessments performed by various government departments.

Office for Social Inclusion, Department of Social and Family Affairs, Floor 1, Gandon House, Amiens Street, Dublin 1
An Oifig um Chúmsiu Sóisialta, An Roinn Gnóthai Sóisialacha agus Teaghlaigh, Urlár a hAon, Teach Gandon, Sráid Amiens, Baile Átha Cliath 1

Tel: + 353 1 7043 851 Fax: + 353 1 7043 032 e-mail:osi@welfare.ie