Combat Poverty Agency 'too soft' on Government

The Combat Poverty Agency has been accused by Fine Gael of being "too soft" on the Government.

The charge came yesterday from the Fine Gael spokesman on Social and Family Affairs, Mr Michael Ring, in advance of the publication today of the agency's annual report for 2002.

Mr Ring said the Government didn't care about the poor of this country and that the agency "wasn't tough enough" on it.

The TD claimed social spending increases were being "wiped out" by increases in service charges, ESB and rent.

Today's report is likely to call for a rebalancing of tax and welfare policies in an effort to reduce relative-income poverty rates.

Between 1994 and 2000, relative-income poverty rates have increased from 15.6 per cent to 22.1 per cent, but consistent poverty - which measures the proportion of people earning less than 60 per cent of the average disposable income, and who don't have basic household items - has fallen from 15 per cent to 6 per cent between 1994 and 2000.

Last month, the director of the agency, Ms Helen Johnston, said the Government's success in tackling poverty and social exclusion was likely to come into sharp focus during the Irish Presidency of the EU next year.

She said it was imperative that Ireland invested in high-quality public services that delivered value for money and a standard of excellence for their target groups that matches our more progressive European partners.