Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 3

Written Answers. - Benchmarking Commission.

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The social welfare benchmarking and indexation group, established under the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, commenced its work in December 2000. The group is chaired by an independent chairperson, Professor Kieran Kennedy, former director of the Economic and Social Research Institute, and is comprised of representatives from the social partners and relevant Departments.

The terms of reference of the group are drawn from the PPF and require it to:

(i)examine the issues involved in developing a benchmark for adequacy of adult and child social welfare payments, including the implications of adopting a specific approach to the ongoing uprating or indexation of payments, having regard to their long-term economic, budgetary, PRSI contribution, distributive and incentive implications, in light of trends in economic, demographic and labour market patterns; and

(ii)examine the issue of relative income poverty.

I understand that the group is preparing an interim report and that it intends to finalise this report when it meets later this month. The interim report will be made publicly available as soon as possible thereafter. I also understand that the group intends to complete its work by the end of July 2001 and to present its final report shortly thereafter.