Written answers
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Department of Social and Family Affairs
Departmental Expenditure
5:00 pm
Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the recommendations contained in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes that pertain to his Department; the detail of each and proposed savings relating to his Department; which of these have been implemented to date and the expected savings to be achieved on each of these in one calendar year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36986/10]
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, 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. These recommendations are outlined in the following table along with the current status of each recommendation.
This forthcoming Budget process will have regard, amongst other issues, to the outstanding recommendations of the Special Group. It is important to stress that at this stage no decisions have been taken either by me or by the Government in regard to changes in social protection schemes and services in 2011, including the outstanding recommendations of the Special Group.
| Special Group Proposals | Annual Savings Identified in Report€m | Status | Estimated2010 Savings€m |
| 1. 5% General Reduction in Rates | 850 | Partially implemented in Budget 2010 through reductions of between 3.5% and 4.2% in personal and qualified adult rates payable to persons aged under 66. | 437 |
| 2. Administrative Savings | 3 | Reduction in grants to Family Support Agency and the Citizen's Information Board | 2.3 |
| 3. Agency Services | 3 | Expenditure in 2010 in relation to Agency Services provided by An Post will be €3.44 m less than 2009 | |
| 4. Discontinuation of the Family Support Agency | 30 | Not implemented – Family Support Agency transferred to the Department of Community Equality and Gealtacht Affairs on 1st May 2010. | |
| 5. Change eligibility conditions of Family Income Supplement | 20 | Not implemented to date | |
| 6. Reduce/Standardise Child Benefit Rate | 513 | Partially implemented in Budget 2010 through reductions of €16 per month in both rates. There was also full compensation for welfare families. | 123(net) |
| 7. Grading of Jobseeker's Assistance by Age | 70 | Fully implemented including a €100 per week rate for those aged under 23 and €150 per week rate for those aged 23 and 24. | 54 |
| 8. Discontinuation of Treatment Benefit | 92 | Partially implemented. | 54 |
| 9. Phase out second welfare payment | 100 | Not implemented to date | |
| 10. Discontinuation of Double payments for CE Schemes | 100 | Not implemented to date | |
| 11. Tax Household Benefits Package | 11 | Not implemented to date – Implementation is a matter for the Department of Finance | |
| 12. Merge Blind Persons scheme with Disability Allowance | 0 | Not implemented to date | |
| 13. Re-examine the level of the Rent Supplement payment on a regional basis and reduce the length of time on rent supplement | 35 | Implemented - rent limits that apply to new Rent Supplement agreements were reduced to reflect reductions in private rent levels. | 20 |
| 14. Legislate for and reduce eligibility for Exceptional Needs Payments | 18 | Not implemented to date | |
| 15. Merge Pensions Ombudsman with the Financial Service Ombudsman | 1 | Not implemented to date | |
| 16. Merge Pensions Board with the Financial Regulator | 1 | Not implemented to date | |
| TOTAL SAVINGS | 1,847 | 690.3 |
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