Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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88. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to introduce a new working family payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2724/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments to improve the take-home pay of families on low incomes. One such commitment is the proposed “Working Family Payment” targeted at low-income families.

My Department’s approach to developing the Working Family Payment will be guided by two principles. First, that it should ensure that work pays and that no family is better off on welfare than at work, and second, though equally important, that it have a positive effect on child poverty.

An open call for submissions on the Working Family Payment will issue shortly on the Department's website. An Interdepartmental Working Group is in place to assist the work of my officials in developing proposals. This work will also be informed by the consultation process.

Considerable work and analysis needs to be completed along with the consultation. It is intended that developed proposals will be prepared and will be considered in the context of discussions for Budget 2018.