Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2016
341. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the name and number of Bills in preparation in his Department and published by his Department since May 2016; the Stage each Bill is at in the Houses of the Oireachtas; the number of Bills from his Department signed into law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40141/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's normal legislative cycle involves the enactment of two or more Social Welfare Bills each year: (a) a Bill in November/December to implement the annual social welfare changes announced in the October Budget, and (b) a Bill in spring/early summer to provide a legal basis within the social welfare code for policy, administrative and operational changes (and Budget measures, if required).
I have prepared and published one Bill since May 2016, namely the Social Welfare Bill 2016. The Bill provides for a range of Budget measures, including increases in weekly welfare rates and the extension of eligibility for Treatment Benefit and Invalidity Pension to the self-employed. It also contains a series of non-Budgetary amendments to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 across a range of social welfare schemes.
The Bill was published on 4 November and was passed by the Dáil on 24 November. The Bill is at Report Stage in the Seanad today, 13 December.
