I am aware that the Scottish Parliament recently announced that it would be establishing a Commission on Social Security to independently scrutinise the new social security system that is being introduced. My understanding is that this is part of the devolution process whereby Scotland is assuming responsibility for the provision of 11 social security benefits.
The current system in Ireland already provides for poverty proofing. Poverty impact assessment (PIA) is a requirement under the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016, the Revised Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) Guidelines 2009, and Section 3.4 of the Cabinet Handbook for preparing Memos for Government. My Department provides guidelines and support to other Government Departments regarding the PIA process. In addition, each year proposed Budget changes to social welfare payments are subject to social impact assessment. This is an evidence-based methodology which estimates the likely effects of policies on household incomes, families, poverty and access to employment. It is based on the tax/welfare micro simulation model SWITCH, which was developed by the Economic and Social Research Institute.
Finally the Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to ensure that institutional arrangements are in place to support equality and gender proofing in the independent fiscal and budget office and within key government departments and to draw on the expertise of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) to support the proofing process. My colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, is currently progressing work in this area through the programme of equality budgeting that is being piloted for the 2018 budgetary cycle across a number of diverse policy areas.
