Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 350: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the legislation approved by Dail Éireann in 2007 and 2009 pertaining to her Department; and if he will list and clarify what originated from Brussels and what was purely national. [16335/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Four social welfare Acts have been passed by the Oireachtas during the period 2007 to date, as follows.

First, the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 (No. 8 of 2007 enacted 30 March 2007). This Act provided for the implementation of certain social welfare improvements announced in Budget 2007. These include increases in Child Benefit, the One-Parent Family Payment income limit and the Respite Care Grant. It also provided for enhancements to the Illness Benefit, Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit and Supplementary Welfare Allowance schemes. The Act further provided for the introduction of a special rate of Carer's Allowance which is, in specified circumstances, payable simultaneously with certain other social welfare payments. In addition, the Act provided for a number of miscellaneous amendments to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. Section 36 of the Act amended the Pensions Act 1990 in relation to Trust Retirement Annuity Contracts to ensure compliance with the IORPS directive (Directive 2003/41/EC). Finally, the Act also provided for amendments to the Combat Poverty Agency Act 1986, Family Support Agency Act 2001 in relation to attendance before the Public Accounts Committee, and the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 in relation to employment data.

Second, the Social Welfare Act 2007 (No. 40 of 2007 enacted 20 December 2007). The Act provided for increases in the rates of social insurance and social assistance payments and improvements in Family Income Supplement and Widowed Parent Grant. It also provided for an increase in the weekly earnings limit below which PRSI is not payable, an increase in the income ceiling above which PRSI contributions are not payable by employed or optional contributors, as announced in the 2008 Budget Statement, in addition to changes to the Health Contributions Act 1979 to provide for an increase in the weekly and annual exemption thresholds for the Health Contribution Levy.

Third, the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2008 (No. 2 of 2008). This Act provided for the implementation of certain social welfare improvements announced in Budget 2008. These include increases in Child Benefit, Early Childcare Supplement and the Respite Care Grant. Provision was also made for an increase in income limit for the One-Parent Family Payment and change in the assessment of income for the purposes of qualification for the payment. In addition, the Act provided for a number of miscellaneous amendments to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, the Pensions Act 1990, the Family Law Act 1995 and the Family Law (Divorce) Act, 1996. The Act also contains the legislative provisions for the payment of Blind Welfare Allowance and Domiciliary Care Allowance by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, scheduled to come into effect in 2009. At that time, these schemes were administered by the Department of Health and Children.

Fourth, the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 (No. 22 of 2008). This Act provided for a number of measures as announced in Budget 2009, including the increases in the rates of social insurance and social assistance payments and improvements in the Family Income Supplement scheme, PRSI changes, and amendments to the social welfare code. It also provided for amendments to the Pensions Act 1990, the Civil Registration Act and the Citizens Information Act to assign responsibility for the provision of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service functions to the Citizens Information Board. This Act also provided for the integration of the Combat Poverty Agency and the Office for Social Inclusion, which will entail the dissolution of the Combat Poverty Agency and the transfer of permanent staff of the Agency.