At an informal meeting of Directors of research institutes in
Ireland in February, I97z, the suggestion was made that the
ESRI should organise a conference on research priorities in
relation to poverty. The Directors were concerned that, despite
rapid economic growth in the i96os, signiifcant problems of
poverty remained. Moreover, the reduced economic growth
rates since I969, and the resulting increase in unemployment,
have intensi~ed concern about poverty and social deprivation.
The Directors" suggestion was also inspired by the Conference
on Poverty in Ireland held in Kilkenny in November, I97I under
the auspices of the Council for Social Welfare
