Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will publish the findings of the advisory group on tax and social welfare commissioned by her Department. [42854/12]

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

Creating jobs and tackling poverty are two of the key challenges that Ireland now faces. It is essential that our tax and social protection systems play their part in addressing these challenges. To this end, and in line with commitments contained in the programme for Government, I established an advisory group on tax and social welfare last year, with the aim of harnessing expert opinion and experience to examine 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’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’s terms of reference provide for a range of issues to be considered.

The group commenced its work programme by prioritising the area of family and child income supports taking into account the considerable level of analysis that has already taken place in relation to family and child income supports. I am currently considering the report of the group’s examination of this issue and intended to publish this report in due course. The report is therefore not yet in the public domain.