Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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52. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her Department's priorities for the remainder of this Dáil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29591/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Government published a Statement of Government Priorities forthe period 2014 to 2016 last July. The statement sets out how we will build a social recovery to accompany the economic recovery that is now under way. The key priorities in that statement are:

1. Strengthening the Domestic Economy & Prioritising New Jobs for the Unemployed

2. Delivering Better Living and Working Standards

3. Improving Housing Availability & Affordability

4. Responsible and Sustainable Management of the Public Finances

5. Rebuilding Trust in Politics & Public Institutions

6. Protecting & Enhancing Peace in Northern Ireland

I am determined that the Department of Social Protection will play a full role in ensuring that the benefits of recovery are felt evenly across the country.

Key priorities for the Department of Social Protection are:

- To ensure that labour market activation services are provided to jobseekers and other clients using: the Department’s Intreo service; its Pathways to Work strategy; the new JobPath contract; the Youth Guarantee and employer engagement including the Employment and Youth Activation Charter; and other employment schemes and supports.

- Implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities.

- To contribute to the framing of Budget 2016 and the implementation of Budget changes.

- The establishment of a Universal Retirement Savings Group (URSG), chaired by the Department to develop the roadmap and timeline for the introduction of a universal supplementary workplace pension scheme which will be brought to Government for consideration.

- Tenancy sustainment and the transfer of responsibility for those with a long-term housing need from Rent Supplement to the Housing Assistance Payment, where appropriate.

- Continued implementation of the Compliance and Anti-Fraud Initiative 2014-2018.

- Continued roll-out of the Public Services Card

Tackling poverty among children and families is a Government priority. The Department of Social Protection is working with other Departments to implement a whole-of-government, multi-dimensional approach to tackling the issue of child poverty. Furthermore, the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016, which is the over-arching approach for tackling poverty and social exclusion, is currently being updated for the extended period 2015-2017.

I will, as I have done so far in my tenure as Minister for Social Protection, continue to drive forward the agenda of social welfare reform to ensure that the social welfare system continues to be sustainable and fit-for-purpose into the future.