Agency details Budget priorities

Combat Poverty Agency has costed an overall Budget package in the region of £1.44 billion in its pre-Budget submission. The package is equally divided between tax cuts and social welfare expenditure, including £317 million allocated to a universal child benefit. The agency has identified five priority areas for action in its submission to the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern. The submission, A Fairer Deal in Budget 2001 sets out the agency's priority recommendations for tackling poverty and for achieving a fairer distribution of the benefits of economic success.