Written Answers Nos 1536-1555
1536. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the budget for her Department in each of the years 2013 to 2016, and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36037/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1538. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the budget for her Department in each of the years 2013 to 2016, and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36039/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1536 and 1538 together.
The following table provides the budget provided for in the relevant Revised Estimates Volumes (REV) for the Department of Social Protection in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017:
|
Year |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 year to end June |
|
REV (Gross Vote 37* and Social Insurance Fund expenditure) |
€20,243m |
€19,603m |
€19,378m |
€19,625m |
€9,940m (profile) |
|
Outturn |
€20,228m |
€19,763m |
€19,905m |
€19,801m |
€9,873 |
Note: * Excludes the Exchequer subvention to the Social Insurance Fund.
A Supplementary Estimate was voted by the Dáil in both 2015 and 2016 in order to provide for the higher out-turns in those years while the higher out-turn in 2014 was funded from a lower expected Exchequer subvention to the Social Insurance Fund due to higher than expected PRSI receipts.
The Christmas Bonus was partially restored in 2014 (25% bonus) and this was increased in both 2015 (75% bonus) and 2016 (85% bonus). The estimated cost of the Christmas Bonus for each year was; €65m in 2014, €198m in 2015 and €220m in 2016 and these sums were not provided for in the REV for the years in question.
1537. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure of her Department in each of the years 2013 to 2016, and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36038/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1540. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the social welfare expenditure in each of the years 2013 to 2016, and to date in 2017, the number of each type of payment and the number of persons in receipt of each payment, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36041/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is proposed to take Questions Nos. 1537 and 1540 together.
The information requested for 2013 and 2014 is available in the annual statistics reports at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Statistical-Information-Reports---Archive.aspx
The information requested for the period to the end of 2015 is available at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-SWS-Statistical-Information-Report-2015.aspx
The annual statistics report for the period to the end of 2016 will be published before the end of August 2017. The data in terms of the number of recipients up to the end of June 2017 is set out in the table attached.
Data in respect of expenditure by scheme in respect of 2017 will be published in 2018.
Number of Recipients and Beneficiaries of Weekly Social Welfare Payments June 2017
|
- |
- |
Qualified |
Qualified Children |
|||
|
Type of Payment |
Recipients |
Adults |
Full Rate |
Half Rate (1) |
Other Children |
Total Beneficiaries |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
94,744 |
3,232 |
514 |
118 |
0 |
98,608 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
386,925 |
66,936 |
1,400 |
836 |
0 |
456,097 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
58 |
14 |
72 |
|||
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension |
121,054 |
11,834 |
0 |
132,888 |
||
|
Death Benefit (OIB Widows) |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
Total Number of Recipients of Pensions |
602,781 |
70,182 |
13,748 |
954 |
0 |
687,665 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
204,952 |
46,195 |
110,213 |
25,492 |
0 |
386,852 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
39,909 |
72,428 |
0 |
112,337 |
||
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's Non-Contributory Pension |
0 |
n/a |
||||
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
0 |
n/a |
||||
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance (2) |
17,763 |
2,639 |
8,774 |
0 |
29,176 |
|
|
Farm Assist |
7,366 |
3,092 |
4,360 |
1,372 |
0 |
16,190 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
317 |
69 |
2 |
0 |
388 |
|
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
35,027 |
3,098 |
4,344 |
3,173 |
0 |
45,642 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
0 |
n/a |
||||
|
Maternity Benefit |
19,199 |
294 |
714 |
155 |
0 |
20,362 |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
14 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
16 |
|
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
44 |
1 |
9 |
7 |
0 |
61 |
|
Total Number of Recipients of Working Age on Income Supports |
324,591 |
55,389 |
200,845 |
30,199 |
0 |
611,024 |
|
Community Employment Programme |
20,774 |
5,780 |
7,486 |
5,576 |
0 |
39,616 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
2,633 |
1,036 |
1,330 |
500 |
0 |
5,499 |
|
TUS - Community Work Placement |
6,728 |
1,629 |
2,385 |
2,133 |
12,875 |
|
|
Job Initiative |
346 |
0 |
346 |
|||
|
Back To Work Allowance Employee |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
Back To Work Enterprise Allowance |
||||||
|
- Self Employed First Year |
5,431 |
1,729 |
3,663 |
1,056 |
0 |
11,879 |
|
- Self Employed Years 2 - 4 |
5,050 |
1,649 |
3,506 |
957 |
0 |
11,162 |
|
JobBridge National Internship Scheme |
425 |
65 |
113 |
36 |
0 |
639 |
|
Back To Education Allowance(3) |
1,458 |
153 |
926 |
89 |
0 |
2,626 |
|
Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme |
390 |
54 |
16 |
0 |
460 |
|
|
Gateway |
211 |
49 |
70 |
38 |
368 |
|
|
Jobsplus |
0 |
0 |
||||
|
Wage Subsidy Scheme |
2,594 |
0 |
2,594 |
|||
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
2,081 |
211 |
364 |
355 |
0 |
3,011 |
|
Total Number of Recipients of Working Age on Employment Supports |
48,121 |
12,355 |
19,859 |
10,740 |
0 |
91,075 |
|
Disability Allowance |
130,290 |
13,935 |
28,637 |
10,972 |
0 |
183,834 |
|
Blind Pension |
0 |
n/a |
||||
|
Carer's Allowance |
73,528 |
4,014 |
40,167 |
0 |
117,709 |
|
|
Illness Benefit |
53,705 |
4,427 |
7,848 |
6,893 |
0 |
72,873 |
|
Interim Illness Benefit |
405 |
30 |
63 |
33 |
0 |
531 |
|
Injury Benefit |
989 |
93 |
158 |
86 |
0 |
1,326 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
56,724 |
6,982 |
5,797 |
8,617 |
0 |
78,120 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
0 |
|||||
|
Carer's Benefit |
2,783 |
2,783 |
||||
|
Total People with Disabilities |
318,424 |
25,467 |
46,517 |
66,768 |
0 |
457,176 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
0 |
|||||
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
||
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
|
Total Child Related Payments |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Rent Allowance |
78 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
78 |
|
Total Miscellaneous Payments |
78 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
78 |
|
Grand Total (4) & (5) |
1,293,995 |
163,393 |
280,969 |
108,661 |
0 |
1,847,018 |
|
Comprising:- |
||||||
|
Total Insurance |
679,008 |
82,087 |
31,646 |
19,437 |
0 |
813,782 |
|
Total Assistance |
614,987 |
81,306 |
249,323 |
89,224 |
0 |
1,033,236 |
|
(1) A Qualified Child increase is payable at half rate where a spouse living with a recipient is not a Qualified Adult. Each spouse may receive half the Qualified Child increase where both spouses are in receipt of a Social Welfare Payment. |
|
(2) Includes basic weekly payments only. |
|
(3) Back to Education ISTS figures only. |
|
(4) The total figures include a small element of double counting as some persons could be in receipt of more than one payment, the second of which might be, for example, Disablement Pension, Rent Allowance, Family Income Supplement and Half Rate Carers |
|
(5) The totals for other children and beneficiaries are not directly comparable with reports prior to October 2009 as both the recipients and children are now being shown in respect of both Guardian's Payments. |
1541. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons by age and gender in receipt of each form of social protection payment and or partaking on a job activation or employment support scheme in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36042/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is available at the following link:
job activation and employment support scheme
Details on Paternity Benefit will be supplied following the publication next month of the Annual Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report.
Participants of a job activation or employment support scheme by age and sex at the end of December 2016.
1542. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in processing a domiciliary care allowance application by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36054/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is currently experiencing delays in the processing of Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) claims. We are extremely sorry for any worry or concern this may cause to parents/guardians of children with additional care needs. At present it is taking 20 weeks on average to finalise an application. Applications are processed in date of receipt order. There are a number of factors that have contributed to the extended time required to process claims;
First, there is a significant increase in the volume of applications being received. The numbers applying for DCA have increased significantly since 2009, when the Department took over administration of the scheme from the HSE. The year on year increase in volumes over recent years has consistently been in the 15-20% range due to an increase in population and more awareness of the scheme. Over 1,000 claims were received in May, along with a further 700 in June; whereas the average would have been 400 per month a few years ago.
Secondly, following a High Court ruling in 2016, there is now a need for the Department’s medical assessors to provide the deciding officer with a more detailed opinion on the child’s eligibility for the scheme and for the deciding officer in turn to provide more detailed reasons for their decision when communicating this to the customer. These factors have resulted in the time taken to finalise applications increasing significantly and as a result the numbers being processed have reduced and the timescale to finalise each application has increased
Corrective actions are being taken, with additional deciding officers recently assigned to work on the scheme. Once these deciding officers become fully operational, the increase in claim processing capacity should allow for an improvement in processing times.
An application for DCA in respect of this child was received in the Department on the 29th March. While it is not feasible to provide an exact date of when a particular application will be decided, the applications currently being finalised were received in mid-February 2017. The application will be considered by a Deciding Officer and a decision notified as soon as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1543. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community employment schemes and the overall number of places allocated to community employment by county in tabular form. [36059/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of Community Employment projects and the number of current participants and supervisors by county are presented in the following table:
No. of Projects and Participants / Supervisors by County as of 30 June 2017
|
County |
No. of Projects |
Current Participants |
Current Supervisors |
|
Carlow |
15 |
415 |
24 |
|
Cavan |
12 |
318 |
17 |
|
Clare |
25 |
485 |
31 |
|
Cork |
83 |
1,973 |
109 |
|
Donegal |
49 |
1,098 |
59 |
|
Dublin |
222 |
4,930 |
372 |
|
Galway |
65 |
1,373 |
85 |
|
Kerry |
45 |
993 |
50 |
|
Kildare |
24 |
713 |
41 |
|
Kilkenny |
17 |
437 |
27 |
|
Laois |
15 |
319 |
16 |
|
Leitrim |
7 |
164 |
9 |
|
Limerick |
50 |
1,246 |
76 |
|
Longford |
14 |
321 |
19 |
|
Louth |
25 |
726 |
43 |
|
Mayo |
33 |
726 |
46 |
|
Meath |
18 |
478 |
29 |
|
Monaghan |
11 |
400 |
19 |
|
Offaly |
18 |
403 |
25 |
|
Roscommon |
16 |
302 |
19 |
|
Sligo |
20 |
473 |
30 |
|
Tipperary |
45 |
871 |
57 |
|
Waterford |
36 |
782 |
46 |
|
Westmeath |
21 |
569 |
33 |
|
Wexford |
44 |
983 |
63 |
|
Wicklow |
22 |
555 |
35 |
|
Grand Total |
952 |
22,053 |
1,380 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1544. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 446 of 12 July 2017 if a person between 21 and 24 years of age currently on the €102.70 or €147.80 rate of jobseeker's allowance will receive the full rate of €215.50 if they commence a community employment placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36060/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment and/or further education and training. The main cohort of CE participants is made up of the long-term unemployed in receipt of jobseekers allowance.
The minimum weekly payment for CE participants based on 19.5 hours worked is €215.50 with effect from 13 March 2017.
If the actual social welfare payment a participant was getting was €193 a week or less, then the person will get the minimum CE weekly rate of €215.50 (i.e. €193.00 plus €22.50 participant allowance).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1545. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of beneficiaries and the spending on the family income supplement scheme in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017 in tabular form. [36061/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of June 2017, there were 57,050 families in receipt of Family Income Supplement (FIS). The estimated expenditure for FIS for 2017 is €422.5m. The expenditure to the end of June 2017 was €232.1m.
The following table sets out the number of beneficiaries and the spending on the family income supplement scheme in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017:
Family Income Supplement (FIS)
|
Year |
Expenditure € millionRecipients - Families |
|
2012 |
223.632,307 |
|
2013 |
261.844,159 |
|
2014 |
297.950,306 |
|
2015 |
367.955,913 |
|
2016 |
415.457,567 |
|
2017 |
232.157,050 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1548. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the number of persons on community employment, Tús and the rural social scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36086/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department offers a wide range of employment initiatives including Community Employment (CE), Tús and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) which provide income support and activation supports catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market.
As the economic recovery takes hold and the overall level of unemployment continues to fall, the Department recognised the need to adapt these schemes to the changing circumstances, opportunities and needs of jobseekers and others. An Analysis of the CE Programme was completed by the Department in late 2015 and was published following Government approval in April 2017.
The review looked at CE, TÚS, Gateway and the RSS. It was agreed by Government that the overall number of scheme places available in 2017 will be 32,000. CE will continue to be the largest programme in 2017 with 22,400 places available in over 950 schemes across the country. The balance will be made up of placements in schemes such as the RSS (3,100) and Tús/Gateway (6,500). The Deputy should note that the RSS number reflects an increase of 500 participant places which were announced at the beginning of this year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1549. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid by her Department in each of the years 2008 to 2016, and to date in 2017, for free television licences for those in receipt of certain social welfare payments. [36133/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe household benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. There are currently 428,611 customers in receipt of the free television licence as of June 2017.
The amounts paid each year from 2008 to date are:
|
Year |
€ |
|
2008 |
53,700,925 |
|
2009 |
55,703,654 |
|
2010 |
57,184,565 |
|
2011 |
57,184,560 |
|
2012 |
57,184,560 |
|
2013 |
57,184,560 |
|
2014 |
52,184,556 |
|
2015 |
52,184,556 |
|
2016 |
52,184,556 |
|
2017 to end of June |
31,024,324 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1550. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has engaged in discussions with the Department of Communications, Climate action and Environment regarding free television licences for those in receipt of certain social welfare payments, with a view to those persons being issued with a certificate of exemption or similar rather than a licence costing €160 such that her Department is not paying a licence fee to another Department. [36134/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe free television licence is received as part of the household benefits package (HHB) which also comprises of the electricity or gas allowance. The package is generally available to people living in the State, aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to carers and people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. Widows and widowers aged from 60 to 65 whose late spouses had been in receipt of the household benefits package retain that entitlement.
The expenditure on the household benefits package for 2016 was €218 million. €52 million of the expenditure on household benefits in 2016 relates to payment of the free television licence element.
My Department is currently engaged with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment on determining appropriate funding arrangements for the scheme. These discussions have not included the options of no longer making a payments for the free television licence element of the house hold benefits package, nor the introduction of a certificate of exemption as an alternative to a free television licence.
If a decision was taken by the Government, to the effect that my Department would not pay the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment for the free television licence element of the house hold benefits package, it is unlikely that there would be any net expenditure savings as a result, as one would expect the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to reduce my department’s annual budget by the amount saved, and to increase the budget of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment by the same amount, as it would otherwise have a shortfall.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1551. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of each body or organisation that is scheduled to receive in excess of €1 million from her Department's Vote of expenditure or the group of Votes of expenditure connected with her Department in 2017 for the provision of services by the body or the organisation concerned; the amount involved in each case; if there is a signed service level agreement in place in respect of the services to be carried out by these bodies or organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36163/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy when contacted by my officials indicated that he is seeking data on payments of €1 million or more made to bodies under the aegis of the Department. One agency is relevant in this regard, namely the Citizens Information Board (CIB).
The 2017 REV Estimates provide for a grant of €54.05m to the CIB. The CIB is responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money advice and budgeting) and advocacy on a wide range of public and social services. The CIB delivers on this remit through direct provision, by supporting a network of delivery partners, and by funding targeted projects. CIB requires annual service agreements with its network of service delivery partners.
My Department monitors CIB’s compliance with its business and financial reporting requirements as set out in relevant legislation and in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. It is in the process of finalising Oversight and Performance Delivery Agreements, as now required by that Code to formalise the oversight, monitoring and reporting arrangements already in place between the Department and the CIB. CIB is subject to monthly monitoring of its budget expenditure and requirements by my Department, in advance of its monthly grant drawdown. There are also regular meetings with senior staff of the Board’s Executive on ongoing business matters, including any new or enhanced policy or service initiatives being undertaken by CIB, or its service delivery partners. In addition, a senior official of my Department serves on the board of CIB.
CIB’s annual financial statements are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General, prior to being laid, together with its Annual Report, before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Under their role, the Chief Executive of the Board is also accountable to the Houses of the Oireachtas.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1552. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a supplementary welfare allowance can be backdated to the date of an accident in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36257/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned submitted an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) with effect from12/7/17. During the application process the person concerned, enquired with the Designated Officer, if his application could be back-dated to the date of his accident. The Designated Officer advised the person concerned that applications for SWA are processed from date of application only, in line with current guidelines. However she reviewed his circumstances to ascertain if financial hardship may warrant consideration of back-dating, as an exceptional case. The Designated Officer found that financial hardship was not a determining factor and awarded the claim from date of application. The person concerned was advised accordingly.
It is open to the person concerned to appeal the decision of the Designated Officer to the Social Welfare Appeals Office if he is not happy with the decision. He will be informed of the outcome on completion of the appeals process.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1553. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding Irish persons that live in South Korea, in which there is no reciprocal agreement between it and Ireland, which results in a person being unable to collect contributions upon their departure from their second country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36269/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare (Agreement With the Republic of Korea on Social Security) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 552/2008) provides that periods of social insurance in Ireland and in the Republic of Korea may be taken into account, where necessary, by either State in order to qualify for certain benefits and pensions. In effect, it protects the pension rights of people who have worked and paid reckonable social security contributions in Ireland and in Korea by allowing a person to combine the period of contributions in each country, if necessary, to qualify for a pension payment under either Irish or Korean law.
The Agreement ensures that the contributions paid retain a value even when the person leaves Korea. For instance, they would be particularly important if the person should need to claim an Irish invalidity pension or survivor’s pension within a few years of returning to Ireland. Similarly, if the person did not have enough Irish contributions for State pension entitlement on reaching pension age, the Korean contributions would be added to their Irish contributions for this purpose.
As a key objective of the Agreement is to allow the social insurance contributions paid in Ireland and Korea to be aggregated, as necessary, when considering an insured contributor’s entitlement to the range of pensions covered, it does not provide for persons to collect the value of the social insurance contributions paid on their departure from Korea. There are no plans to review this situation at present.
1554. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to amend the legislation and regulations for eligibility for the State pension (contributory) (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many persons have been denied full rate of payment due to the present method of calculation of entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36273/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Pensions Framework (2010) proposed that a “Total Contributions Approach” (TCA) should replace the yearly average approach, for new pensioners from 2020. The aim of this approach is to make the rate of contributory pension more closely match contributions made by a person. Officials of my Department are currently working on the detailed development of the TCA with a view to making proposals for consideration later in the year. An important element in the final design of the scheme will be the position of people who have gaps in their contribution records for various reasons, and this factor is being considered very carefully in developing this reform.
This is a very significant reform with considerable legal, administrative, and technical elements in its implementation. Following completion of the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund later this year, a refined proposal will be developed. My Department will then conduct a period of consultation with relevant stakeholders including interest groups, representative bodies and the Oireachtas. Following the consultation period, I will submit a proposal to Government seeking approval of the new approach, which in turn will require legislation to be passed by the Oireachtas.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1555. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection when the independent actuarial review of the Social Insurance Fund will commence; the likely timeframe for a public consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36274/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Actuarial Review of Social Insurance Fund (SIF) is currently being finalised by independent consultants. The Review generally will project the income and expenditure of the Fund over a 55 year period, taking into account policy, economic and demographic changes since the previous review was undertaken. The Review is also examining a range of policy options relating to pensions and extending social insurance cover for the self-employed. The completed review will be published in the third quarter of 2017.
The findings of the Review will play an important role in informing the overall debate on policy developments in relation to the Social Insurance Fund in the years ahead including the financial sustainability of the Fund given the expected demographic challenges and consideration of extending the scope of benefits for workers generally, including the self-employed.
I am giving consideration to commencing a public consultation on the levels and types of other benefits which individuals would reasonably expect in the future, how such payments should be funded and by whom as well the appropriateness of the current benefit structure. It is my intention to consult with my colleagues in this regard and to bring a Memo for the Information of the Government on the findings of the actuarial review and the plans for a public consultation in relation to SIF benefits.
