Sinn Féin spokesperson for Employment Affairs & Social Protection John Brady TD has criticised Minister Doherty for failing to bring forward the Government’s National Action Plan for Social Inclusion, which was due to be published in 2018.

Speaking today, on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Teachta Brady said:

“Minister Doherty has been telling me for over a year now that the Government’s cross Departmental strategy on reducing poverty will be published ‘shortly’.

“The existing strategy is out of date since 2017 and the new Action Plan which was due for 2018-2021 is no-where to be seen.

“We know the facts in relation to poverty in this State – 760,000 people live below the poverty line and over 100,000 people at work, live in poverty. Yet, despite this we are seeing no urgency from Government to tackle poverty.

“There is no excuse for the delay of this report. It only serves to show the Government’s indifference to the issue of poverty and eradicating it in Ireland.

“It’s a great shame that on this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, this Government haven’t even a plan to show on how they intend to tackle poverty.”