The aim of Combat Poverty is to promote a just and inclusive society by working for the prevention and elimination of poverty and social exclusion. Combat Poverty will realise this aim through the four general functions set out in the Combat Poverty Agency Act, 1986: policy advice, project support and innovation; research; public education.

The four general statutory functions of the Combat Poverty under the 1986 Act are :
• Advising and making recommendations to the Minister for Social Welfare on all aspects of economic and social planning in relation to poverty in the State;
• The initiation of measures aimed at overcoming poverty in the State and the evaluation of such measures;
• The examination of the nature, causes and extent of poverty in the State and for that purpose the promotion, commission and interpretation of research;
• The promotion of greater public understanding of the nature, causes and extent of poverty in the State and the measures necessary to overcome such poverty.