Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 354: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the list of all proposals in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure relating to his Department or to bodies or agencies under its remit which have been implemented to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13888/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The following recommendations of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes were implemented in Budget 2010:

1. Welfare rates should be reduced by 5% generally or alternatively, by 3% reversing the October 2008 Budget increases. - Weekly rates of payment to people under 66 years of age were reduced by about 4.1% or an average of €8.30 per week.

2. Reduce and standardise Child Benefit payments. - The higher and lower rates of Child Benefit were reduced by €16 per week.

3. Grading of Jobseeker's Allowance by age: the personal rate for new claimants between the ages of 20 and 24 should be reduced to €150. - The rate of Jobseeker's Allowance for new recipients was reduced to €100 per week for those aged 20 and 21 years (in line with the rate for 18 and 19 year olds) and to €150 per week for those aged 22 to 24 years.

4. Discontinue the Treatment Benefits Scheme - Entitlement to the Scheme has been limited to medical and surgical appliances and to the free examination elements of dental and optical benefits.

5. Re-examine the level of the Rent Supplement payment on a regional basis. - This review is nearing completion.