The following recommendations of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes were implemented in Budget 2010:
1. Welfare rates should be reduced by 5% generally or alternatively, by 3% reversing the October 2008 Budget increases.
— Weekly rates of payment to people under 66 years of age were reduced by about 4.1% or an average of €8.30 per week.
2. Reduce and standardise Child Benefit payments.
— The higher and lower rates of Child Benefit were reduced by €16 per week.
3. Grading of Jobseeker's Allowance by age: the personal rate for new claimants between the ages of 20 and 24 should be reduced to €150.
— The rate of Jobseeker's Allowance for new recipients was reduced to €100 per week for those aged 20 and 21 years (in line with the rate for 18 and 19 year olds) and to €150 per week for those aged 22 to 24 years.
4. Discontinue the Treatment Benefits Scheme
— Entitlement to the Scheme has been limited to medical and surgical appliances and to the free examination elements of dental and optical benefits.
5. Re-examine the level of the Rent Supplement payment on a regional basis.
— This review is nearing completion.