Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021
90. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has examined the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection and Rural and Community Development titled Pre-budget Submission to the Department of Social Protection; if she is considering implementing the recommendation of the report in Budget 2022 and social welfare legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48300/21]
View answerI recently received the Pre-Budget Submission from the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands, which was produced on foot of a significant consultation and engagement with interested stakeholders.
I am very grateful for the time and effort taken by the Committee in producing this report and in drawing these issues to my attention.
Many of the issues addressed in the Committee’s submission are similar to suggestions made to me and to my Department in our engagement with stakeholders, through the pre-budget process undertaken each year. This includes the receipt of many pre-Budget submissions, the Department’s Pre-budget Forum, the Social Inclusion Forum and bi-lateral meetings with the community and voluntary sector and individual representative groups.
As with all of these engagements, the views and recommendations of the Committee will form part of consideration by Government when forming social welfare measures to be included as part of Budget 2022, taking account of Government priorities and the need to protect the most vulnerable in society.
