Towards 2016 - Third progress Report

PART ONE

1. North/South Co-operation and Reconciliation - The Plenary meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council held in Armagh on 17 July 2007 was very positive, with an open discussion on many issues of common interest, North and South, including economic challenges. The Council took a number of important decisions, including reaching agreement on two major infrastructure projects: an investment of €580m/£400m to upgrade the road in the North serving Derry and Letterkenny; and the restoration of the Ulster Canal from Clones to Lough Erne.

CHAPTER II. Enhancing Ireland's Competitive Advantage in a Changing World Economy

2. Macroeconomic Policy - In September 2007, the Tánaiste announced a further step in his ongoing process of budgetary reform with the introduction of a Unified Budget from this year. Under this streamlined approach, all expenditure additions are announced together with tax measures on Budget day. Budget 2008 will be published on 5 December 2007. (Section 1)

3. Food & Drink Sector - Minister Coughlan announced the establishment of the new Agri-Food Research sub- Group on 21 September, which has the two-fold objective of acting as the national platform for the EU technology platform while also identifying high-level research priorities. The first meeting of the Group took place in October 2007. (Section 8)

4. Transport 21 - The total expenditure allocation for 2007 is €2,290m. Nearly €1,358m has been spent to the end of September. On 13th September 2007, the RPA announced the outcome of the 1st stage of the procurement process for Metro North. On 27th September 2007, the public consultation process was launched on the route options for the new Luas line from Lucan to the City centre.(Section 11)

5. Social & Affordable Housing - Data for the first six months of 2007 shows thatcommencements/acquisitions on the local authority programme were up 15% compared to the same period in 2006. In the first six months of 2007, social housing completions are up 33% on the first six months of 2006. Following a 20% increase in delivery in 2006, affordable housing has increased by 5% in the first six months of 2007. (Section 13)

6. Environment Sustainability - The First Report on the implementation of the European Union Sustainable Development Strategy was submitted to the European Commission by Ireland in July 2007. A general public consultation process on the national strategy was opened in October 2007. (Section 18)

7. Rural Development - The Rural Development Programme for Ireland 2007-13 was approved by the European commission on July 24 this year with an almost three-fold increase in funding available for LEADER-type activity to €425.4m. The amended National Rural Development Strategy was formally approved by the EU Commission in September. (Section 19)

8. A Competitive and Profitable Agri-Food Sector - Over 94,000 applications received Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payment for 2007 amounting to €231m. Advanced payments worth some €533m under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme commenced on 16 October 2007. Expenditure on these schemes to the end of September 2007 amounted to some €509m. The new REPS 4 Scheme was launched in August 2007. The 8% increase in Disadvantaged Area Payments is in place from 2007 and €231m has been paid to farmers to date. (Section 20)

9. Ireland's National Reform Programme (NRP) under the EU Lisbon Agenda - Ireland's second annual Progress Report on NRP implementation was submitted to the European Commission in October 2007. There is now a comprehensive and integrated set of national strategies under the Towards 2016 framework and the 2007 Progress Report makes clear that the primary focus in the period ahead is now on implementation of these complementary strategies.

CHAPTER III. The Lifecycle Framework

Children

10. Promoting Recreation, Sports, Arts and Culture in the lives of our children - The National Recreation Policy was launched by the Minister for Children in September 2007. (Section 30.2.4)
People of a Working Age

People of a Working Age

11. Caring responsibilities - A major nationwide awareness campaign was run in September/October 2007 to advertise the new arrangements whereby people in receipt of certain other social welfare payments who are also providing full time care and attention to a person can now retain their main welfare payment and receive another payment depending on their means, the maximum of which will be equivalent to half rate Carer's Allowance. This measure came into effect from 27 September 2007. (Section 31.2.5)

Young Adults

12. Health and Social Services - An all-island positive mental health awareness campaign was launched on 9th October 2007. This awareness campaign was developed using the findings from the Mental Health Awareness and Attitudes Survey conducted by the National Office for Suicide Prevention. (Section 31.3.2)

Older People

13. Pension/Income Supports - The Green paper by the Government on pension policy was published on 17th October 2007. The National Pensions Review and the further report undertaken by the Pensions Board - Special Savings for Retirement - have been major inputs to the Green Paper. An extended consultation process, lasting until mid 2008, will follow publication and the Government is to respond by developing a framework for long-term policy. (Section 32.2.1.)

14. Housing and Accommodation - A revised framework of housing adaptation grant schemes to assist older people and people with a disability with their accommodation needs was implemented on 1 November 2007. The revised schemes will ensure that the available funding is targeted at lower income households and those whose need is greatest. (Section 32.2.3)

The Lifecycle Approach

15. Role of the Community and Voluntary sector - Having been presented to the Dáil in April 2007, the Charities Bill 2007 was restored to the Dáil order paper in the Autumn session, and Second Stage of the Bill commenced on 10th October 2007 in Dáil Eireann. (Section 34.1)

16. Developing the Lifecycle Approach - The first annual Social Inclusion Report is in its draft stage and will be launched by the Minister of Social and Family Affairs at the Social Inclusion Forum on 15 November 2007.

People with Disabilities

17. Priority Actions - The Health Act 2007 establishes the Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services within The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) with specific functions. The newly appointed Chief Inspector took up post on 1st October 2007. (Section 33.3)

18. National Standards - At the request of the Department of Health and Children, the National Disability authority produced Draft National Standards for Disability Services. Statutory responsibility for the introduction of national standards for disability services now rests with HIQA following the passing of the Health Act, 2007. A National Quality Standards Group is being established by HIQA to develop and agree a set of national standards for services for people with disabilities. The HSE has set up a Working Group to carry out a National Review of the HSE Funded Adult Day Services. (Section 33.3)

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