Written Answers. - Social Welfare Recommendations.
Noel Davern
Question:
45
Mr. Davern
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
the action, if any, he intends to take in response to the recommendations concerning social welfare set out in the first report of the Joint Committee on the Family on the impact on the family of State tax and social welfare schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7194/96]
The first report of the Joint Committee on the Family entitled The Impact of State Tax and Social Welfare Schemes on the Family was published in February 1996 and its recommendations of relevance to my Department are currently under examination.
The report makes an important contribution to raising awareness of the issues which need to be addressed to improve the responsiveness of State services to families in different circumstances. In identifying areas such as child income support, the problems encountered by young people living outside the family home, and the concept of "adult dependency", the report raises complex issues for my Department in its efforts to provide a more responsive service aimed at meeting different needs.
The expert group on the integration of the tax and social welfare systems has also been considering ways of improving the interaction between the tax and social welfare systems with particular reference to the impact on people's incomes and administrative and budgetary implications. In its work, it has examined issues such as income support for children, methods for reducing unemployment and poverty traps, family income supplement and adult dependant payments, and the treatment of cohabiting couples under both the tax and social welfare systems. The report of the expert group is expected to be available by the middle of this year.
Furthermore, the Commission on the Family established by the Government last October has a mandate to examine the needs and priorities of the family in a rapidly changing social and economic environment. The commission is due to complete its final report by June 1997 and in that report to recommend how best families can be facilitated in the support and development of individual members. The recommendations of the commission will form the basis for the development of an integrated policy to support families for the future. The work of the joint committee and the expert group will also be very important in the development of that policy.
This year's budget had a clear pro-family focus with many improvements affecting families, as follows:
—Child benefit increased by £2 per month per child i.e. to £29 for the first two children and £34 for the third and subsequent children.
—New grant of £500 for twins at birth at age 4 and at age 12.
—Back to school clothing and footwear allowance increased by £3 to £43 for primary and £58 for secondary schoolchildren.
—Visually impaired children to be given free travel companion pass.
—New one-parent family payment to be introduced which will replace the existing lone parent's allowance and deserted wife's benefit.
—Major improvements in family income supplement resulting in a £6 a week increase to most recipients, qualifying period of employment reduced from six to three months, qualifying hours of employment reduced from 20 and 19 and job-sharers now included.
—Child dependants' allowance to be retained for 13 weeks if an unemployed parents parent takes up a job.
—Medical cards to be retained for three years where a person unemployed for more than one year takes up a job — this is particularly important for families.
—The substantial increase in the number of places on various schemes available to those who are long-term unemployed is especially beneficial to families including lone parents. An additional 5,000 back to work allowances are being made available to the long-term unemployed in 1996 while priority is being given to the long-term unemployed on community employment.
—PRSI adjustments are work-friendly and, in common with all supports for work, help to counter the cycle of unemployment which affects many families.
