Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 3

Written Answers. - Working Group Report.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

48 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if the interim report of the social welfare benchmarking and indexation working group has been completed; when this report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10479/01]

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's membership comprises representatives from the social partners and Government Departments. It is chaired by an independent chairperson, Professor Kieran Kennedy, former director of the Economic and Social Research Institute.

The terms of reference of the group are drawn from the PPF and require it to 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 to examine the issue of relative income poverty.

I am advised that an interim report is currently in course of preparation by the group. This interim report is intended to provide a broad outline of the work carried out by the group to date, the types of issues that are being considered and the work that remains to be done. I understand the group intends to finalise the interim report when it meets again later this month. The interim report will be made publicly available as soon as possible thereafter. I understand the group is aiming to complete its deliberations by the end of July 2001 and to present its final report shortly thereafter.

Question No. 49 answered with Question No. 47.