John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the specific proposals in the programme for Government for which she is responsible; the target dates which she has agreed in respect of the delivery of these proposals; and if she will publish an implementation schedule. [9589/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Programme for Government contains a wide range of commitments relevant in full or part to my Department as set out below. These commitments are challenging in the current environment and will be examined further following the announcement of the forthcoming Jobs Initiative. Any changes to the schemes and services arising from these commitments will have to be introduced over forthcoming Budgets and having regard to the availability of resources. . Halve the lower 8.5% rate of PRSI up to end 2013 on jobs paying up to

€356 per week; . Provide resources for additional places in training, work experience and

educational opportunities for those who are out of work; . Expand eligibility for the back to education allowance. . The development of a new graduate and apprentice internship scheme,

work placement programmes and further education opportunities for our

young unemployed providing an additional 60,000 places across a range

of schemes and initiatives. . Provision of a range of initiatives to increase access to further higher level

education for the unemployed. . Replacing FÁS with a new National Employment and Entitlements Service

so that all employment and benefit support services will be integrated in a

single delivery unit managed by the Department of Social Protection. . Maintaining the standard 10.75% rate of employers PRSI; . Introduce a range of measures to tackle the problem of welfare fraud. . Establish a Tax and Social Welfare Commission to examine entitlements

of self employed and the elimination of disincentives to employment,

including the interaction between the taxation and the welfare systems to

ensure that work is worthwhile. In particular, it will examine family and

child income supports, and a means by which self-employed people can

be insured against unemployment and sickness. . Convert the Money Advice and Budgeting Service into a strengthened

Personal Debt Management Agency with strong legal powers. . Maintain social welfare rates. . Make greater use of Mortgage Interest Supplement to support families

who cannot meet their mortgage payments. . Progressively reduce reliance on Rent Supplement, with eligible recipients

moving to the Rental Accommodation Scheme. . Amend the 30 hour rule for Rent Supplement and Mortgage Interest

Supplement for people moving from welfare to work. . Review the operation of the Rent Supplement Scheme and introduce a

code of conduct for rent supplement eligibility similar to that which

operates for local authority tenants. . Pay rent supplement to tax-compliant landlords registered with the PRTB

and offering decent quality accommodation, to root out fraud. . Over time, One Parent Family Payment will be replaced with a parental

allowance that does not discourage marriage, cohabitation or work. . Divert staff from elsewhere in public service to clear the social welfare

appeals backlog, and introduce a consolidated appeals process. · Put the household benefits packages out to tender, so that the Exchequer

benefits from reduced prices. · Complete and implement the National Positive Ageing Strategy so that

older people are recognised, supported and enabled to live independent

full lives. · Reform the pension system to progressively achieve universal coverage,

with particular focus on lower-paid workers, to achieve better risk sharing,

and to provide for greater flexibility for those who wish to retire on a

phased basis.