Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide his Department's costing for the implementation of a basic income scheme. [7068/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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My Department did not produce the costing for the implementation of a basic income scheme.

The examination of the issues involved in introducing a basic income scheme was undertaken by the steering group on basic income which was established as part of a commitment in Partnership 2000 for inclusion, employment and competitiveness. The group which was chaired by the Taoiseach's Department was composed of representatives of all four pillars of social partnership, as well as relevant Departments including the Department of Finance. The group commissioned a number of reports and finished its work in March 2001. The group's work contributed to the development of the Government's Green Paper on Basic Income, which was published in September 2002.