Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the Report of the advisory group on tax and social welfare in relation to child income supports will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24700/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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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 ensuring work is worthwhile. To this end, last year I established an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare with the aim of harnessing expert opinion and experience in order to address a number of specific issues. These include making cost-effective proposals for improving employment incentives and achieving better poverty outcomes, particularly child poverty outcomes. The Group has been asked to examine a number of specific issues and make recommendations on them, 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 the Group including the Budget 2012 proposals concerning Disability Allowance and Domiciliary Care Allowance.

The Group's overall 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. Decisions in respect of publishing reports of the Group will be made at the appropriate time.

The Group has recently concluded its examination of the issue of child and family income supports and the Group's report has been submitted to me. The report is currently receiving my consideration and it is my intention to publish the report in due course.