Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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98. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the pre-budget forum hosted by her on 3 July 2015. [28147/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I was pleased to host the Department’s annual Pre-Budget Forum in Dublin Castle last Friday. Thirty-seven community and voluntary groups participated in the Forum, which gives organisations representing the community and voluntary sector an opportunity to voice their views and priorities in relation to social welfare expenditure in the context of the forthcoming Budget.

The main business of the Forum was undertaken at six workshops facilitated by Departmental officials. The discussions were centred on the main themes that emerged from the Pre-Budget submissions from the groups. Each of the workshops was based around a theme: Poverty and Social Inclusion; Retired and Older People; Working Age; Illness, Disability and Caring; Housing Supports; and Children and Families.

An independent Moderator was engaged for the event and she provided an oral summary of the key priorities raised by each of the workshops to a plenary session of the Forum. My officials have taken note of all of the issues raised at the various workshops and these will be feed into in our consideration of the forthcoming Budget. I would like to thank all of the groups who attended on the day for their contributions.