Willie O'Dea
Ceist:158. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the schemes that are currently under review by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35345/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 16 November 2016
Ceisteanna (158)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department administers over 65 separate schemes and services which serve a diverse group of clients including families, employees and employers, jobseekers, people with disabilities, carers and older people. All of these schemes and services are kept under constant review with a view to ensuring that they continue to meet the needs of my Department’s customers.
In line with the Programme for a Partnership Government and the responsibilities of my Department more generally, a number of specific focussed reviews are currently underway, or will commence shortly. These include:
- Back to Work Family Dividend – a Focused Policy Assessment (FPA) of the Back to Work Family Dividend scheme is currently being undertaken, which is examining the rationale underpinning the scheme and its effectiveness in helping families transition from welfare to work.
- Jobseeker’s Allowance Transition - a formal review of the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) will commence in 2017. This review will take the form of a Value for Money review and will examine the JST since its inception in 2013.
- Working Family Payment - in line with the Programme for a Partnership Government, the effectiveness of the Family Income Supplement (FIS) scheme is currently being examined, along with a range of other supports to both jobseekers and to those in employment, in the context of the development of a new Working Family Payment.
- Reduced Rates of Jobseeker’s Allowance for Young Jobseekers - the National University of Ireland, Maynooth is currently undertaking research which is examining the effectiveness of the reduced rates of Jobseeker’s Allowance in encouraging young jobseekers to avail of education, training and employment programmes/opportunities. The findings of this research will inform my Department’s review of the effectiveness of the reduced rates in encouraging young jobseekers into education, training or employment opportunities.
- Community Employment (CE) Scheme - a review of the Community Employment (CE) Scheme has recently been conducted by my Department and the findings of that review are now being considered.