John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As we have a quorum, we will commence in public session. I remind visitors and members to turn off their mobile phones. This meeting has been convened to consider the Supplementary Estimate for Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection, which was referred by the Dáil to this Select Committee on 21 November 2018. I welcome the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, and her officials and thank them for the briefing material provided, which has been circulated to members.

Before we commence, I must dispense with one housekeeping item.

Two sets of imeachtaí were circulated to members, those relating to Committee Stage of the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017, which we considered on 17 May 2018, and those relating to Committee Stage of the Social Welfare Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2018, which we considered on 22 November 2018. Are they agreed? Agreed.

I propose that the following arrangements apply: the Minister will be asked to make a brief statement to the committee and after that members will have an opportunity to raise any issues. I remind members that, in accordance with Standing Orders, discussion should be confined to the items constituting the Supplementary Estimate, which are: subhead A1 - administration - pay; A2 - administration - non-pay; A3 - State pension non-contributory; A4 - jobseeker's allowance; A5 - one-parent family payment; A6 - widows' and widowers' pension non-contributory; A7 - deserted wife's allowance; A8 - basic supplementary welfare allowance; A10 - exceptional and urgent needs; A11 - other working age supports; A12 - community employment programme; A13 - rural social scheme; A14 - TÚS; A15 - job initiative; A16 - back to work enterprise allowance; A17 - youth employment support scheme; A18 - back to education; A19, gateway; A20 back to work family dividend; A21 - JobsPlus; A22 - wage subsidy scheme; A23 - other working age employment supports; A24 - disability allowance; A26 - carer's allowance; A27 - domiciliary care allowance; A28 - carer's support grant; A 30 - child benefit; A31 - working family payment; A32 - back to school clothing and footwear; A33 - school meals; A34 - other child-related payments; A35 - rent supplement; A37 - household benefits package; A38 - free travel; A39 - fuel allowance; A40 - grant to the Citizens Information Board; and A41 - miscellaneous appropriations-in-aid. Members should please indicate the subhead to which they are referring when contributing.

I invite the Minister to make her opening statement.