Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 20 March 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection

Implications of Means Testing: Department of Social Protection

Mr. Niall Egan:

We will come back in respect of the numbers. As for the numbers on that scheme, the Deputy is correct. They have fallen. We will revert back on that basis.

The Deputy mentioned self-employed income. We are also looking at that as part of the means review but any changes there will have to be done in line with principles we are developing across the board to ensure consistency and fairness. That would be farm assist, State pension non-contributory, jobseeker's allowance and disability allowance. We need a consistent approach to how we treat self-employed income and that will be part of our principle approach in the means review as well.