Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Departmental Expenditure

9:00 pm

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 756: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the savings outlined in the Report of the Special Group on Public Numbers and Expenditure Programmes which were accepted in budget 2010 for her Department in tabular form; the savings which will be achieved in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1261/10]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes made a range of recommendations in relation to my Department. The recommendations which were implemented, in whole or in part, in Budget 2010 are outlined in the following table.

Special Group RecommendationsBudget 2010 MeasureEstimated 2010 Savings €m
Rates of Payment – 5% reduction in all weekly rates of payment.Rates of Payment – reductions ranging between 3.5% and 4.2% in the weekly personal and qualified adult rates of payment for people of working age.437
Child Benefit – reduce and standardise the rate of Child Benefit to €136 per month, a reduction of €30 per month in the lower rate and €67 per month in the higher rate.Child Benefit – reduction of €16 per month in both the lower and higher rates. Social welfare recipients and lower income workers in receipt of family income supplement were fully compensated through a €3.80 per week increase for each qualified child and a €6 per week per child increase in the family income supplement income thresholds.123(net)
Jobseeker's Allowance & SWA – reductions in weekly rates of payment of Jobseeker's Allowance/SWA for persons aged under 25 to €150 per week.Jobseeker's Allowance & SWA – the weekly rate payable to new claimants aged 20 and 21 was reduced to €100 and the weekly rate payable to new claimants aged 22 to 24 years (inclusive) w as reduced to €150. However, 20 to 24 year olds with dependent children will not be affected, nor will recipients who have exhausted their entitlement to jobseeker's benefit or those who transfer directly from disability allowance.54
Treatment Benefit – abolition/discontinuation of the Treatment Benefit Scheme.Treatment Benefit – the scheme will be limited in 2010 to the Medical and Surgical Appliances scheme and the free examinations provided for under Dental and Optical Benefits.54
Rent Supplement – re-examination of rent caps on a regional basis and the duration of entitlement.Rent Supplement – rent limits that apply to new Rent Supplement agreements will be reduced to reflect reductions in private rent levels.20

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