Single Working Age Payment should be deferred - Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education

While the Committee approves of the principle of a Single Working Age Payment (SWAP), it recommends that it should not be introduced at this time because the necessary supports, activation opportunities and sufficient quality jobs are not in place.

In the absence of these, the Committee believes that the implementation of the proposal would simply serve to cut the incomes of vulnerable groups who are already recognised to be at higher risk of poverty.

The report was written by Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh who was appointed Rapporteur by the Committee to advise on Minister Joan Burton’s proposal to merge all working age social assistance schemes into a single payment.

Report author and Committee Member, Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh, said: “In theory, a single payment has many benefits where the necessary supports and services are in place. However, the merging of all working age social assistance schemes into a single payment may be considered the greatest single change to the Irish social welfare system since the foundation of the State. Therefore, the Committee feels that it should be deferred until sufficient job opportunities exist and adequate supports are in place, especially for single parents and people with disabilities.”

Among the other key conclusions and recommendations of the report are:

• The Committee urges the Minister to maintain the value of the existing earnings disregards, secondary benefits and means or capital allowances in any reform;
• Any reform must accommodate the up-take or part-time, short-term or casual work;
• Carers should not be included in any SWAP;
• Any programme of social welfare reform must be driven by an explicit anti-poverty and gender equality objective;
• Adding greater numbers to the National Employment and Entitlements Service including people facing a complex range of challenges would overburden and further stretch a system that does not have the capacity or the infrastructure to meet the needs of those currently on the Live Register;
• The Committee welcomes the Pathways to Work as an initiative which aims to introduce enhanced activation and training services as its stated objective;
• Simplification and administrative savings should be sought via the introduction of a single collection of documentation for means testing;
• The Committee also considers that a reformed Family Income Supplement, as an in-work benefit, could be part of the solution in the shorter term.

Read the report: http://bit.ly/x5NGs2

View video clips of Deputy Ó Snodaigh outlining the key findings of the report in English and Irish. 

Ends

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Notes to the editor: In preparation of the report, Deputy Aengus ÓSnodaigh met and received detailed submissions from 15 organisations and received 30 written submissions from individuals.

Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education

Membership

Damien English, TD (Chairman)
Ray Butler, TD
Áine Collins, TD
Joan Collins, TD
Michael Conaghan, TD
Barry Cowen, TD
Seán Crowe, TD
Tom Fleming, TD
Brendan Griffin, TD
John Halligan, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Anthony Lawlor, TD
John Lyons, TD
Nicky McFadden, TD
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, TD
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, TD
Willie O’Dea, TD
Brendan Ryan, TD
Brendan Smith, TD
Peadar Tóibín, TD

Senators

Deirdre Clune,
John Kelly,
Michael Mullins,
Marie Louise O’Donnell,
Averil Power,
Feargal Quinn