Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1188. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the actions that have been taken to gender and equality-proof social welfare provisions as set out in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20216/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Every year, the Department carries out a range of social impact assessments on the welfare measures contained in the Budget, using the ESRI’s SWITCH tax-benefit microsimulation model. The Social Impact Assessment is an evidence-based methodology which estimates the likely distributive effects of policies on household incomes, families and poverty. This informs decision-making leading up to the Budget and ensures that the most vulnerable are protected. The assessment of the last budget showed an overall progressive nature in the budget package, with lower income deciles gaining proportionately more than higher income deciles.

The Department is represented on the Equality Budgeting Steering Group and has engaged with an OECD review of Ireland's approach to equality budgeting. The Department has included appropriate equality metrics in the 2021 Revised Estimates Volume.

In terms of specific Programme for Government commitments, the Terms of Reference for the Pensions Commission include a review of the current State Pension arrangements taking account, where relevant, of socio-demographic characteristics (for example, gender).

In conjunction with my colleague, Roderic O'Gorman TD Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, parent's leave and benefit has been extended from two weeks to five weeks. This can be taken by both parents and is an important equality measure contained in the Programme for Government.