Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 247: To ask the Minister for Social Protection about the recommendations the advisory group on tax and social welfare has made to date; the date on which she expects the group to advise on PRSI rates and social welfare entitlements for the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30757/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Creating jobs and tackling poverty are two of the key challenges that we face. It is essential that our tax and social protection systems play their part in addressing these issues and ensure that work is worthwhile. To this end, I established an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare last June. The main rationale for setting up the Advisory Group is to harness expert opinion and experience in order to address a number of specific issues and to make cost-effective proposals for improving employment incentives and achieving better poverty outcomes, particularly child poverty outcomes.

The Advisory Group has been asked to examine a number of specific issues and make recommendations on these, including child and family income supports, working age income supports, the appropriate unit of assessment in both the tax and social welfare codes, the interaction of the tax and social welfare codes, issues concerning social insurance for self-employed people and any other issues that may be referred to it.

The Group's method of working is based on producing modular reports on the priority areas identified in the terms of reference. Where possible, the aim is to provide recommendations that can be acted upon in time for the annual budget/estimates and legislative cycle and to allow the Government to best address its commitments under the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support.

I understand that the Group is currently prioritising the area of family and child income supports so that it can make a contribution in time for the 2012 Budget and I expect to receive recommendations in this regard in the near future. Thereafter, I expect that the Group will address the other issues provided for in its work programme including that of social welfare entitlements for the self-employed.