Written answers

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Departmental Reviews

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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999. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current number of live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by her in tabular form; and the date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed. [1560/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department currently has fourteen (14) live studies in progress. Details of these are set out in tabular format below:

Live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned Expected completion date
1. Review of Management Accounting Process Quarter 1 2022
2. A survey of employers to ascertain their views of the Department’s employer services. Ongoing on a quarterly basis
3. The General Register Office (GRO), which operates under the aegis of my Department, has led an interdepartmental working group to consider how to revise the death registration process to provide for more timely death data and to align our processes with international best practice.  The GRO published a consultation document on proposals identified by the working group to improve the timeliness of death registration. The consultation process was completed in Quarter 2 2021. The Working Group is due to finalise consideration of proposals by the end of Quarter 1 2022.
4. The GRO is currently conducting an internal review of the Civil Registration Act, with a view to proposing amending legislation to improve functionality and prepare for digital registration services. Quarter 3 2022.
5. The GRO has engaged with the Department of Justice, reviewing proposals for development of the Registration of Wills Bill 2021 – this Bill was introduced in the Seanad in October 2021. Quarter 2 2022.
6. Research Programme on Public Employment Services and Labour Market Activation, conducted between the Department of Social Protection and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). Ongoing.
7. Review of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund Grants for people with disabilities Quarter 2 2022.
8. Review of the Wage Subsidy Scheme for people with disabilities Quarter 2 2022
9. The Ability Programme Final Evaluation is being undertaken by Quality Matters and managed by Pobal. The programme funds 27 service providers to support people with disabilities (aged 15-29) to develop skills to progress into education or training and employment. Quarter 2 2022.
10. A Periodic Critical Review of Citizens Information Board is currently underway. This review is conducted under the terms of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. Quarter 1 2022.
11. The Government established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine certain issues in relation to child  maintenance. The Group is chaired by former Circuit Court Judge Catherine Murphy and includes legal, policy and academic professionals as well as officials from the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Justice.  The Group's Terms of Reference are to consider and make recommendations on: (i) the current treatment of child maintenance payments in the Department of Social Protection; (ii) the current provisions regarding liable relatives managed the Department of Social Proection and (iii) the establishment of a Child Maintenance Agency in Ireland. A public consultation process was undertaken in 2021. Quarter 1 2022.
12. Evaluation of the School Meals Programme. Quarter 4 2022.
13. As part of the 3-year contract for the provision of poverty and social inclusion research, the Economic & Social Research  Institute (ESRI) is finalising a research paper examining the impact of social transfers in reducing poverty in Ireland. Quarter 1 2022.
14. OECD-Joint Research Centre (JRC) Evaluation of the Community Employment Scheme. Quarter 4 2022.

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