An umbrella group for organsiations fighting poverty and social exclusion has called on the Government to ensure the Combat Poverty Agency remains independent.
The Community Platform, which is a network of 27 organisations, said plans to make Combat Poverty part of the Office for Social Inclusion (OSI) in the Department of Social and Family Affairs would mean the organisation would lose its independence and could threaten its impartiality.
"The agency has a proven track record — over more than two decades — of providing impartial and evidence-based analysis on poverty-related issues and developing workable solutions. It hasn't shied away from criticising Government policy and highlighting areas where there have been room for improvement," said Anne Costello, spokeswoman for the Community Platform.
"Its independence is enshrined in the legislation that was enacted at the time of Combat Poverty's establishment. To subsume the Agency into the Office for Social Inclusion now would make a mockery of its status as an independent and authoritative voice."
The Community Platform maintains that changing Combat Poverty's status have a negative impact on hundreds of thousands of people. The agency is a statutory organisation that advises the Government on policies to reduce poverty in Ireland, and many of the agency's recommendations have been taken on board by various governments over the years, Ms Costello said.
"Combat Poverty has played a critical role in highlighting the causes and extent of poverty; identifying new
and emerging issues, and testing solutions," said Ms Costello.
"There is a real danger that if Combat Poverty loses its independence, it will become another mouthpiece for Government, and the most vulnerable sections of society will suffer as a result."
Ms Costello said the speculation and debate surrounding the status of the Combat Poverty Agency was distracting people from the issue of how to help those currently living in poverty and helping the most vulnerable, at a time when the agency is needed "more than every before".
"The Community Platform recognises that — in the current economic climate — innovative and strategic responses are required to tackle poverty. In order to do this, we need authoritative information, evidence-based research and clear analysis. In other words, we need the retention of Combat Poverty as an independent agency."
The proposal to merge the agency with the OSI are contained in a review of the organisation, which began in June of 2007 and was carried out by the office for social inclusion. No decision has yet been made.
