There are several important documents that set the work of the Combat Poverty Agency in its historical context, tracing the evolution of Irish anti-poverty policy from the early 1970s to the establishment of the Agency in 1986. These documents are provided here for information purposes only - they are not Combat Poverty publications but are included here because of their historical significance and their value as a record of the development of Irish social policy.

Kilkenny Conference on Poverty 1971

The first Kilkenny Conference on Poverty was held under the auspices of the Catholic Church's Council for Social Welfare in November 1971. Papers from the first Kilkenny Conference on Poverty were published in the August 1972 issue of the journal Social Studies (Vol 1 (4) 1972). In addition to the papers delivered at the conference, this issue includes background papers on various aspects of poverty in Ireland and an account of the conference discussions.

• Papers from the 1971 Kilkenny Conference on Poverty:

Kilkenny Conference on Poverty 1981

The second Kilkenny Conference on Poverty was held in November 1981, again under the auspices of the Council for Social Welfare. It revisited the themes of the first conference and reviewed progress in the fight against poverty in the intervening ten years. As with the first conference, the proceedings include papers delivered and background papers, including an assessment of the Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty.

• Papers from the 1981 Kilkenny Conference on Poverty:

Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty in Ireland 1974-1980

The National Committee on Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty in Ireland was established by the Minister for Social Welfare in May 1974. The Committee was chaired by Sr Stanislaus Kennedy and its purpose was to design and implement a programme of experimental pilot schemes that would test and develop new ways of dealing with poverty. The Committee produced its final report in early 1981. In September 1981 the Department of Social Welfare published its review of the operation of the Pilot Schemes. This review is in two parts: Part I is an examination of the programme itself and Part II contains descriptions of each of the projects.

• National Committee on Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty 1974-1980 - Final Report:
• Pilot Schemes Interim Report 1978:
• Review of the Pilot Schemes - Part I:
• Review of the Pilot Schemes - Part II:

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