Chapter seven
Targeting social need
In one sense, TSN is limited by the principle of parity, for example, between the social security functions of the DHSS (NI) and the DSS (GB), and this is contrasted with the 'scope for policy innovation' which the DoE (NI) and DED are argued to have (see, for example, Chapter Six, this volume). This scope for action on the part of at least some departments is derived from the fact that policy is, more often than not, co-ordinated at official level rather than ministerial level (Connolly, 1992). Because public expenditure in Northern Ireland is allocated from the Treasury in the form of a block grant, ministers and senior civil servants with the Northern Ireland departments have a considerable degree of flexibility in distributing resources. There is therefore considerable potential within the current system of public expenditure in Northern Ireland to target resources and this is why Ministers have argued that TSN, through financial planning and shifts in public expenditure patterns, is capable of 'skewing resources to the areas most in need' (Ancram, xxxx, 19xx). As a result, TSN should, in terms of its own logic, be discernible in a review of public expenditure over time.
Impact of TSN on Policies and Programmes
No time frame for implementing and assessing the impact of TSN was given by the Secretary of State when he announced the policy, although he indicated that it was a long term commitment and would not 'be quick nor easy'. NICVA (1994) argued that no evidence of even elementary progress towards establishing the processes necessary for full implementation could be found for 1991, 1992 and most of 1993:
The TSN policy is potentially the most significant policy initiative in the area of social need, deprivation and disadvantage ever taken by Government ... However, it has yet to take root in all Departments or to make real impact where it is most needed ... Unless Government establishes new ways of progressing the policy and of challenging Departments to implement it with vigour and enthusiasm it may unfortunately remain a nice idea existing in the margins of Government and the minds of a few committed individuals (NICVA, 1994: xx)
The results presented in the rest of this chapter confirm much of NICVA's critique, whilst documenting some advances in particular areas.
Extract from Chapter Seven: 'Policy Aspects of Employment Equality' Edited
by E Mclaughlin and P Quirk. |
