Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 July 2014
385. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will outline her priorities for the remainder of her term in office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32782/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government published a Statement of Government Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 on Friday, 11th July. The statement sets out how we will build a social recovery to accompany the economic recovery that is now under way.
The key priorities in the statement are:
1. Strengthening the Domestic Economy and Prioritising New Jobs for the Unemployed
2. Delivering Better Living and Working Standards
3. Improving Housing Availability and Affordability
4. Responsible and Sustainable Management of the Public Finances
5. Rebuilding Trust in Politics and Public Institutions
6. Protecting and Enhancing Peace in Northern Ireland
The full text of the statement is available at:
http://www.merrionstreet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Statement-of-Government-Priorities-Final-110714.pdf
I am determined that the Department of Social Protection will play its role in ensuring that the benefits of recovery are felt evenly across the country. The Government is committed to targeting investment in disadvantaged communities and we will draw on the lessons learned in successful pilots in Ballymun. There will be a cross-government focus on early intervention initiative providing key support services such as early childhood literacy and learning and the continued nationwide roll-out of the Youth Guarantee by my department to ensure work, training and educational opportunities are provided for young jobseekers.
Key priorities for the Department of Social Protection are as set out below:
- Activation, including the continued implementation of the current approaches to activation which include Intreo, Pathways to Work, JobPath, the afore-mentioned Youth Guarantee, employer engagement, and other employment schemes and supports.
- Budget 2015 and implementation of Budget changes.
- Progressing Social Welfare, Civil Registration and Gender Recognition legislation.
- Illness scheme reform.
- Implementation of the Compliance and Anti-fraud Initiative 2014-2018.
- Continue work on adequacy and sustainability of pensions into the future and respond to the OECD review of the Irish pensions system which was published in 2013.
- Review and response to the Final report of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare Working Age Incentives
- Housing and the transfer of responsibility for those with a long-term housing need from Rent Supplement to the Housing Assistance Payment, where appropriate
- Continued rollout of the Public Services Card
I will, as I have done so far in my tenure as Minister for Social Protection, continue to drive forward the agenda of social welfare reform to ensure that the social welfare system continues to be sustainable and fit-for-purpose into the future.
