Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 322: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the work of the Tax and Social Welfare Commission, in particular the issue of self-employed and their entitlements has been examined by the group. [25631/12]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 328: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare will conclude; if she will provide in tabular form the time frame for each of the modular reports to be published and the areas covered in each report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26363/12]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 328 together.

Creating jobs and tackling poverty are two of the key challenges that Ireland now faces. It is essential, therefore, 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.

In its terms of reference, 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, which includes 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 commenced its work programme by prioritising the area of family and child income supports. The report of the Group's examination of this issue is currently receiving my consideration and it is my intention to publish this report in due course.

Among the other issues that the Advisory Group is currently progressing are the issue of social welfare entitlements for the self-employed and the Budget 2012 proposals concerning Disability Allowance and Domiciliary Care Allowance. The Group will revert to me with its reports on these issues once their examination of the various issues is completed. Thereafter, I expect that the Group will address the other issues provided for in its terms of reference in a time frame to be determined and agreed by the chairperson, in consultation with the members of the Group, with a view to concluding its work programme as expeditiously as possible.

Given the nature of the information, I do not propose to provide this information in tabular form at this time.