Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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23. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 92 of 5 March 2013, the date on which the social impact assessment of the taxation and welfare changes announced in Budget 2013 was completed; the date on which it will be published; the number of persons within her Department who were tasked to complete this work and their positions within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18840/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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My department published the Social Impact Assessment of Budget 2013 on 28 March 2013. The assessment covers the main welfare and direct tax measures in Budget 2013, which generated savings/revenue of almost €1 billion. Social impact assessment is an evidence-based methodology which uses a tax/welfare simulation model developed by the Economic and Social Research Institute to estimate the likely distributive effects of budgetary measures on income and social inequalities. Four departmental staff contributed to the preparation of the assessment. Technical assistance on the use of the Switch model was provided by the Economic and Social Research Institute. Responsibility for the assessment rests solely with my department. Four departmental staff contributed to the preparation of the assessment. Technical assistance on the use of the Switch model was provided by the Economic and Social Research Institute. Responsibility for the assessment rests solely with my department. I hope that the publication of the assessment will inform public discourse and contribute to the policy making process for Budget 2014.