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Departmental Priorities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2018

Tuesday, 20 February 2018

Ceisteanna (46)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

46. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the policy changes she plans to pursue in 2018; her priorities in view of the publication of the social impact assessment of budget 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8346/18]

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Freagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)

My question refers to a study which came out earlier in the month. It is similar to the equality budgeting strategy. I note that the social impact assessment of the welfare and tax measures in the 2018 budget was published utilising the simulating welfare and income tax changes, SWITCH, model developed by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, which I recall being introduced some weeks ago. The results indicate and encompass the impact of the budget changes. I would be grateful if the Minister could outline whether areas were identified in that study that would incline the Government to take alternative pathways in preparation for the 2019 budget or to use the study as a kind of floor to allow the incorporation of alternative views in the next budget.

Since my appointment as Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection in June, I have been clear in outlining that my priorities include children living in consistent poverty, working families including lone parents and people on fixed incomes. I am very pleased about the positive policy developments impacting on all of these areas that are coming into effect this year, as outlined in this year's budget. From the end of March, the maximum weekly rates of social welfare payments for all social welfare recipients will increase by €5 per week, with proportionate increases for those on reduced rates and for qualified adults. This delivers on the programme for Government's commitment to increase the weekly rates of payment for pensioners, people with disabilities and our much-valued carers.

There are also specific measures benefitting low-income families with children. The qualified child increase will increase by €2 per week, which is the first increase in this payment since 2010. This targeted increase will assist families with the most financial need. In addition the income thresholds of the working family payment will increase by €10 per week for families with up to three children, benefitting low-income working families. The income disregard for the one-parent family and jobseeker’s transitional payments will increase to €130 per week. This means that lone parents can keep more of their own earnings from employment without it impacting their income support from the State. These and the other budget measures and policy improvements work to ensure that everyone in Irish society can feel the benefits of our growing and recovering economy.

The social impact assessment carried out by my Department, using the ESRI’s tax and benefits microsimulation model, SWITCH, confirms that budget 2018 succeeds in its goal for everyone to benefit from the recovery. The assessment confirms the importance of social welfare measures in ensuring that budget packages are progressive and benefit those who need the most support.

Indeed, the assessment supports the implementation of the national social target for poverty reduction and reducing consistent poverty from 4% to 2% or thereabouts in 2020. It will take significant funding to achieve that and to improve living standards. Social transfers and taxes have a significant role in that, which we support. I also support the Minister's priorities regarding lone parents and jobseeker’s transitional payments, and I subscribe to the restoration of the income disregard for one-parent families, which facilitates a return to employment or the continuation of employment and opportunities in that regard.

I have always raised the issue of carers. I wrote a report on this issue, of which I am proud. The Minister has continued what various Ministers have done over the years. Carers are just about recognised, but they are poorly treated. I filled in forms for the son of an 89 year old blind woman the other day. He does a little farming. I would win the lottery or get a camel through the eye of a needle quicker. He is allowed to farm for 15 hours as a carer. The Department will come back with a multiplicity of questions about this and I will get angry. The man looks after his mother day and night and he does an hour or two a day with the cattle, giving them fodder and so on. Sometimes the questions the Minister's officials come back with regarding applications would stretch incredulity. I have a lot of knowledge about agriculture but some of them do not know much.

Given that our Department is involved in income support, all the measures and the means test criteria that we go through from one scheme to the next have to be adhered to, but I totally recognise and agree with what the Deputy said. If we were starting with a blank page again, we would value and recognise from a monetary perspective the care that is being given by all our carers who are probably, and not to be trite about it, unsung heroes. I am half apologising but carer's allowance is treated as an income support by our Department and it has to be adjudicated on in the same way as any other payment that is given to support somebody's income. I wish that was not the way but I genuinely acknowledge that the country probably could not afford to pay for the care that is being given. We, therefore, need to find other ways to recognise the huge contribution that is made by our carers. Fully restoring the respite care grant was a start and I hope that will be increased and extended. The introduction of the 20-year credit towards a pension for those caring for a child or an adult with intellectual or physical disabilities might go some way to recognising the valuable contribution they make. We cannot ever fully repay the carers of our society for what they do.

I acknowledge the improvements that have been made and those to which the Minister is committed. I have always acknowledged her efforts in that regard. I look forward to being pleasantly surprised if this application goes straight through the system. I know there has to be an assessment and an adjudication but if this 89 year old woman was in a nursing home, it would cost €950 a week. The few peanuts her son will get will amount to €220 a week. If that is divided by the number of hours he does, he will earn €2.20 an hour. He has to work hard and, for example, he reads the newspaper to his mother every night. I get animated about this issue. The Minister is correct that carers are unsung heroes. There are hundreds of thousands throughout the country and they are worth €6 billion to the economy. If we did not have them, how many hospital and nursing home places would we have to find? Without the people of Ireland, we would be on our face. The Minister recognises that; I know her family background and I know she is committed to this issue. She should try to find a few shillings. That is why the Labour Party is going after rogue self-employment. If we get that €60 million and give it straight to carers, the Minister will have done a great job.

I cannot follow that. I agree with everything the Deputy said.

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