Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the expenditure reviews completed by his Department in the past 10 years; and if he will provide details of those currently being conducted. [14936/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In June 2006, the Government decided to introduce Value for Money and Policy Reviews (VFMPR), replacing the previous Expenditure Review Initiative and strengthening the institutional arrangements underpinning the process. The Initiative is part of a framework introduced to secure improved value for money from public expenditure. Over the last ten years, the Department has completed 23 reviews under both the expenditure review and VFMPR initiatives, as set out below:

1. Miscellanous Grants to Men's and Women's Groups;

2. Family and Community Services Resource Centre Programme;

3. National Fuel and Smokeless Fuel Schemes;

4. Carer's Allowance;

5. Actuarial Review and National Pensions Policy Initiative;

6. Credited Contributions;

7. Disincentive Effects of Secondary Benefits;

8. Back to Work Allowance Scheme;

9. Report of the Working Group Examining the Treatment of Married, Cohabiting and One Parent Families under the Tax and Social Welfare Codes;

10. Free Schemes;

11. Qualifying Conditions for the Old Age (Contributory) and Retirement Pensions — Phase 1;

12. One Parent Family Payment;

13. An Evaluation of the Back to Work Allowance and Area Allowance Enterprise Scheme (Indecon);

14. Urban and Gaeltacht School Meals Schemes;

15. Payments to Orphans;

16. Illness and Disability Payment Schemes;

17. Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme;

18. Supplementary Welfare Allowance — Phase 1;

19. Back to Education Allowance;

20. Income Supports for Lone Parents and Parents on Low Income;

21. Medical Certification, Reporting, Review and Assessment for Illness, Disability and Carers' Schemes

22. Supplementary Welfare Allowance — Phase 2;

23. Application of the Unemployment Benefit and Assistance Schemes Conditions to Workers who are not employed on a full-time basis.

There are three other VFM reviews currently being conducted. These are reviews of payments to Carers, the Department's Information Services, and Disability Allowance. Two policy reviews were also included under the current round of reviews — the Green Paper on Pensions was completed in October 2007, while a review of the Combat Poverty Agency is ongoing.