Social Inclusion

Poverty and social exclusion can affect all age groups. It is multi-faceted and combating it requires a multi-policy response. This is reflected in the definition of poverty and social exclusion which the Government first adopted in 1997:

People are living in poverty if their income and resources (material, cultural and social) are so inadequate as to preclude them from having a standard of living which is regarded as acceptable by Irish society generally. As a result of inadequate income and resources people may be excluded and marginalised from participating in activities which are considered the norm for other people in society.

The Midland Regional Authority will advance and develop further awareness of activities to improve social inclusion. The Authority will work closely with the County Councils in this regard and in achieving their obectives set out in their respective County Development Board Strategy Reviews and in the goals identified in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion (NAPinclusion).

The Employment Pact, Midlands, as a partner of the Midland Regional Authority is actively engaged in pursuing a number of actions in relation to social inclusion.