Vol. 467 No. 3
20 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Social Welfare the current status of the expert working group report on the integration of the tax and social welfare systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12999/96]
The Expert Working Group on the Integration of the Tax and Social Welfare Systems has recently finalised its report. The practical arrangements for printing of the report are under way, and it is intended to publish the report in the very near future.
The group has already submitted two sets of proposals to Government. It was asked to furnish an interim report on measures which could be undertaken in the 1994 budget to reduce poverty traps and increase incentives to work. It presented this interim report in late 1993. This made two specific recommendations for the 1994 budget. These were easing of the means test for lone parent's allowance to make it more attractive for lone parents to take up work, and abolition of the arrangement whereby employers of medical card holders had to pay the health contribution and employment and training levy on behalf of these employees. Both these issues were addressed in the 1994 budget, and the necessary legislation was included in the 1994 Social Welfare Act.
The working group also submitted a number of proposals which were implemented by the Government in the 1996 budget. These were: retention of the medical card when a long-term unemployed person takes up work; allowing a long-term unemployed person to retain child dependant allowances for up to 13 weeks on taking up employment, pending a decision on their FIS application; and simplification of the means test for unemployment assistance, to make it easier for unemployed people to take up casual or parttime work.
When I have had time to consider the group's final report in detail, and in the light of the public response to the report. I will be consulting with the other Departments concerned, with a view to putting forward specific proposals for a structured response by Government to the report.
