EAPN Ireland Submission to the Public Consultation on the BMW Operational Programme 2007-2013

EAPN Ireland Submission to the Public Consultation on the
                        BMW Operational Programme 2007-2013

Introduction
EAPN Ireland welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the BMW Regional
Assembly consultation on the operational programme for 2007-2013.

As a network of over 150 national and local community-based anti-poverty groups, our
members are acutely aware of the importance of structural funds in their continuing potential,
under the new guidelines, to fight poverty in Ireland in the next round.

The new Operational Programme provides an opportunity to address poverty and social
exclusion issues as part of an integrated approach within the context of the specific activities
eligible for funding under the 2007-2013 period.

In re-launching the Lisbon Strategy, the European Council emphasised the importance of the
two streams , Jobs and Growth and Social Cohesion , which we would see as mutually
reinforcing. This is reflected in the overarching objective for the Structural Funds, to support
the Lisbon Strategy.

We were particularly pleased that the new guidelines for the National Action Plans for
Inclusion (NAPs Inclusion), issued after the Spring European Council, emphasise the
importance of integrating social inclusion priorities across the structural funds and using
structural funds to promote the Inclusion objectives (see extracts attached)

This submission will briefly outline a number of areas where the Operational Programme can
address poverty and social exclusions as it is mainstreamed throughout the operational
programme.

Specific Proposals
Generally
It is essential that the Operational Programmes for the 2007-2013 period are designed and
managed in a way which enhances their potential to address poverty and social exclusion.
There are a number of ways in which it can be achieved.
     As part of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy and the social partnership process there is a
     commitment to poverty proofing all public policy. Poverty proofing needs to be applied to
     the Operational Programme for 2007-2013 in a way which is both open and involves the
     public, particularly the most disadvantaged. This should also include equality and gender
     proofing.
     In line with Government and EU policy, social Inclusion and equality should be cross-
     cutting issues and need to be mainstreamed across all the measures of the operational
     programme. This involves the development of indicators and targets to address these issues.
     While process is important it is essential that there are clear and measurable outcomes in
     relation to social inclusion and equality.
     Article 10 of the Structural Fund General Regulations, the partnership principle , states
     that NGOs and bodies responsible for promoting equality between men and women are to
     be included as partners in the Structural fund programmes. This is to apply to all stages in
     the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of structural fund programmes.
     The participation of such groups at all stages provides greater potential to identify and
     address poverty and social exclusion issues as part of programmes.

Following from the previous point groups experiencing poverty and social exclusion should
   have representation on monitoring committees. Monitoring Committees should also
   operate in a way which facilitates the greatest possible participation of these groups.

1) Innovation and the knowledge economy
  It is essential that groups experiencing poverty and social exclusion are supported to establish
  enterprises and develop their business opportunities. This is particularly important as
  enterprise development becomes more knowledge based and dependent on technology and is
  essential in ensuring equality of opportunity in this area. This requires pro-active and
  targeted measures to ensure these groups are able to participate on an equal basis in
  enterprise development.

 It is also a recognition that enterprise development is a more viable option than access to
 mainstream employment for some groups experiencing social exclusion. This in particular
 relates to women, ethnic minority groups including Travellers, people with disabilities, ex-
 offenders etc. This was a key element in the EAPN Ireland and Community Platform Joint
 Submission to the National Reform Programme 2005-2008 in relation to a-typical
 entrepreneurs. Opportunities in the Traveller economy and exploring further options in the
 social economy are also important elements of this.

 Access to finance and business supports are key areas to be addressed in such a strategy as is
 identifying and addressing policy and other barriers to entrepreneurship for such groups.

 2) Access to transport and telecommunications services of general economic interest
 i. Transport
 Access to affordable public transport is a key issue for many people and particularly for
 people on low incomes or experiencing poverty who are distant from urban centres or
 services. Therefore, EAPN Ireland supports a focus on public transport within the operational
 programme. However, the principles of accessibility and affordability need to inform the
 development of this programme.

 Access to public transport in rural areas is a particular issue which has arisen repeatedly in
 relation to the National Action Plan Against Poverty and Social Exclusion. This includes
 transport between smaller rural centres as well as access to major urban centres. This issue
 needs to be addressed in co-ordination with other programmes developed through the
 National Development Plan and Rural Development Plan 2007-2013.

 ii. Telecommunications
 Information technology is becoming more and more important in all aspects of life including
 employment, access to services and information etc. However, there is an increasing
 inequality in access to information technology which needs to be addressed. Access to
 information technology in communities experiencing social exclusion needs to be part of any
 measure addressing information technology or access to the internet otherwise the inequality
 and exclusion will increase.

 3) Sustainable Urban Development
 As stated in the EARDF Regulation (Article 8) and outlined in the consultation document
 activities which may be supported in this area are to be participative and integrated. It is
 essential therefore that communities themselves are involved as much as possible in the
 development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes to address the
 economic, environmental and social problems that are identified. A Community
 Development approach, as named in the regulation, needs to be supported to enhance the
 capacity of communities to engage meaningfully and on an equal basis to other partners. The

regulation itself outlines some of the most important elements of an integrated approach and
 it is essential that these form the basis of a balanced approach to addressing the issues in
 disadvantaged urban communities.

 Conclusion
 It is essential that poverty, social exclusion an inequality are addressed as cross-cutting issues
 in the Regional Operation Programme otherwise the outcomes the programme activities will
 lead to greater levels of inequality and social exclusion.

 We look forward to an opportunity to discuss these issues with the Committee or secretariat.

 The points above outline some of the ways this can be achieved in terms of the content and
 management of the programme.

                                        Attachment
   Some extracts concerning Structural Funds from the new Guidelines for the NAPs
Inclusion (National Action Plans for Inclusion) 2006-2008 issued by the Social Protection
                 Committee after the Spring European Summit, 2006
                                     (our emphasis)

  Improve mainstreaming: The NAPs/inclusion need to be better integrated with the general
policy approach in Member States and to indicate how poverty and social exclusion objectives
are concerned in other relevant policy areas. Instruments such as poverty proofing and impact
assessment could be used. The NAPs/inclusion need to be linked as appropriate to budgetary
decision-making, including by giving consideration to how the Structural Funds can support
the implementation of measures under each priority objective .

  Resource allocation: In this section Member States are encouraged, first, to indicate what
level of additional resources, including European Structural Funds, are envisaged to achieve
the ..(anti-poverty) ..objective; secondly, what agencies (national, regional or local) will be
responsible for implementing measures and how their efforts will be co-ordinated .

  Mainstreaming: In this sub-section Member States are invited, first, to identify what
arrangements are already in place to mainstream social inclusion in all relevant public
policies (economic, employment, education, social, cultural and environmental) and in the
Structural Funds; secondly, to specify what new or additional arrangements will be put in
place during the period of the plan .

       (a)       that social inclusion policies are well-coordinated and involve all levels of
              government and relevant actors, including people experiencing poverty, that
              they are efficient and effective and mainstreamed into all relevant public
              policies, including economic, budgetary, education and training policies and
              structural fund programmes .

        European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland, 5 Gardiner Row, Dublin 1, Ireland
    Tel 353-1-874 5737, fax: 353-1-878 1289, e-mail: eapn@iol.ie; website: www.eapn.ie

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