Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this. Work is under way on progressing this commitment in the Department of Social Protection. Consideration is being given to the development of a new working age payment. The Minister for Social Protection will be in a position to provide more detail as this project develops. It is a very significant project and requires detailed analysis. Options are being examined to modify or merge existing supports by utilising Revenue's real-time earning data to adjust payment levels in line with a person's weekly earnings to guarantee a basic income floor and to ensure that in all cases, a person's income increases when they work. Technological advancements support this type of model through the sharing of real-time earnings data between the Department of Social Protection and Revenue. The Commission on Taxation and Welfare has also recommended that working age payments should be reformed to move towards an income-related working age assistance payment available to all households, and that the payment should be designed so as to avoid subsidising low-paid employment.

See this speech in context