Vol. 492 No. 6
122 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the progress, if any, made by the interdepartmental working group on the tax and welfare treatment of households; when the report is expected; if the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14720/98]
The issues arising in any examination of the treatment of different family types under the tax and social welfare systems are extremely complex. To date, the interdepartmental working group has met on seven occasions and held a major policy seminar on the various issues in December last. The group has also examined the situation in other countries and is currently examining relevant research which it commissioned from the Economic and Social Research Institute. In addition, research which is of relevance to the group's work, is being carried out by an officer of the Department completing a relevant post-graduate qualification.
