Ireland is failing to meet targets, agreed with the European Union, on increasing employment, improving educational outcomes and reducing poverty, a major review published this morning finds.
The report from Social Justice Ireland looks at targets set in key areas as part of the Europe 2020 Strategy adopted by the council in June 2010.
The strategy was designed in an effort to regain social and economic momentum in Europe, progress on which had been wiped out since the crisis began in 2008.
Its five headline targets are in employment, sustainable energy, investment in research and development, education and poverty reduction.
According to the review, titled Ireland and Europe 2020 Strategy: Employment, Education and Poverty, unemployment is not falling and is becoming increasingly long-term in nature.
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