The Government's efforts to combat poverty and social inclusion have been praised in a report measuring how EU states devise social policy.
The report, by the Combat Poverty Agency, says Ireland is ahead of many of its counterparts in ensuring plans to tackle poverty and promote social inclusion are integrated into Government policy. However, it also concludes that the Government could do more to involve people experiencing poverty in devising and supporting policy solutions.
Evaluation of Mainstreaming Social Inclusion in Europe found Ireland was one of the best performing states at putting in place proper political structures to deliver social inclusion policies.
For example, it has a special Cabinet committee on social inclusion chaired by the Taoiseach and dedicated offices and specialised units in a number of Government departments, agencies and local authorities.
The Government's commitment to improve social inclusion over a number of years in the National Development Plan and the National Plan for Social Inclusion, is also positive, concludes the report.
It also includes a survey that found almost half of respondents said reductions in poverty and social exclusion were high on the Government's policy agenda; 37 per cent of people said social inclusion got a high prominence in employment policies, while one-fifth said it was a high priority in economic development.
However just one in 10 thought social inclusion was taken into consideration when the Government was formulating transport policy.
Helen Johnston, director of the Combat Poverty Agency, said: "Public transport is important rather than just building roads and when information communication technology policy is being formulated, it must be taken into account that not everyone has access to the internet."