Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
516. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has examined and costed the proposals in relation to means testing made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development and the Islands in 2021; if the changes proposed will be included in the consideration by her Department for budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34171/22]
View answerI 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 was very grateful for the time and effort taken by the Deputy and 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 the 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 bilateral 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 2023, taking account of Government priorities and the need to protect the most vulnerable in society
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
