Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004
87 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his definition of hardship with regard to his comments on rescinding the cutbacks from the Estimates for 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28123/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Estimates for the Department of Social and Family Affairs announced last November included a number of provisions to better target resources within the social welfare code. My Department is currently reviewing all the measures in question having regard to: whether the implementation of the measures may be causing hardship; the factors that may be leading to that outcome; the availability of other measures which could alleviate a likely negative impact on the individual; policy or other developments since the measures were announced last year; and to propose and consider possible solutions to any difficulties associated with the various measures.
In this context, a key issue is whether any of the measures, or an aspect of same, is having a significant adverse impact on individuals, be it financially or otherwise, having regard to the overall purpose of each individual measure. I expect this review to be completed in the near future and I will bring forward proposals, if appropriate, in light of the findings of the review.
88 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the consideration being given to introducing tapered social welfare payments for those who are close to or barely exceed means test levels. [28176/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of current features of social welfare schemes are designed to make them more employment friendly by removing disincentives associated with loss of benefits on taking up employment.
Examples of such measures for people returning to work are: one-parent family payment, where the first €146.50 weekly earnings plus 50% of earnings from €146.51 to €293 are disregarded; unemployment assistance, where 40% of net earnings from part-time work are disregarded; retention of rent-mortgage interest supplement and other secondary benefits on a tapered basis in certain circumstances; tapered withdrawal of adult and child dependent increases as the spouse-partner's earnings from employment increase; farm assist, where 30% of earnings from self-employment are disregarded; family income supplement, where 40% of net earnings are disregarded.
Further improvements to incentives to encourage people to take up employment fall to be considered in a budgetary context.
