department of social and family affairs annual report 2006 - Welfare.ie

More documents

Recommendations

Info

chapter 07 goal 4: coverage, access and entitlement 39
goal 4: coverage, access and entitlement To ensure that the range and level of social security coverage is appropriate to the social and economic circumstances of different groups, that the services for which people are eligible are readily accessible and delivered in an efficient, effective and integrated way, through direct provision to our customers and by supporting agencies in providing services to our customers > OBJECTIVE 1 Ensure that the coverage of the Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) system is appropriate to the respective circumstances of employed, self employed and other categories. > The Social Insurance Fund coverage for Volunteer Development Workers and missionaries with a view to improving their access to contributory pensions. The outcome of the Group’s considerations will be considered by the Oireachtas Committee > Tax relief for Child-minders – see Goal 3, objective 2. goal 4: coverage, access and entitlement The surplus in the Social Insurance Fund in 2006 was €669m (provisional outturn) leading to a cumulative surplus of some €3 billion at the end of 2006. > Policy Developments There is a requirement to undertake an actuarial review of the financial condition of the Social Insurance Fund at five-year intervals. The first Actuarial Review was published in October, 2002, and reflected the position of the Social Insurance Fund at the end of 2000. Arrangements were put in place in 2006 for a further review of the Fund as at 2005. This Review will predict the income of the Fund (including the accumulated surplus) as well as the contributory pensions and benefits paid from the Fund – including non‐cash benefits (household benefits package) and other payments (redundancy and insolvency payments). The period covered by this Review will be 55 years (from 2006 to 2061). It is expected that the final Report will be published during the summer of 2007. > Pensions for Missionaries / Volunteer Development Workers: Officials contributed to a Working Group established under the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs to examine issues relating to pension > Other PRSI developments (1) The annual earnings ceiling was increased by €2,420 from €44,180 to €46,600 with effect from 1 January, 2006, reflecting the normal indexation designed to maintain the real value of the ceiling. (2) The PRSI exemption on low earnings was increased from €287 to €300 per week. (3) The weekly Health Contribution threshold was raised by €40 from €400 to €440 per week or €22,880 p.a. > PRSI Exemptions reviewed A review of PRSI exemptions for workers employed temporarily in the state was initiated in 2005. During 2006 stakeholders with an interest in the review were invited to make submissions on the issue. The future of the PRSI exemption scheme was also considered in the context of the new regime to apply to employment permits and developments in relation to immigration policy generally. Recommendations will be brought forward in the light of these developments. > Bilateral agreement Work continued in 2006 towards ratifying the revised agreement with the UK, providing for workers moving between Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands with a view to bringing it into effect in 2007. 40
Page 1 and 2: department of social and family aff
Page 3 and 4: annual report 2006 0
Page 5 and 6: Introduction from the Secretary-Gen
Page 7 and 8: the department - its business and o
Page 9 and 10: Statutory Agencies There are five o
Page 11 and 12: 2006 in review 2006 - year in revie
Page 13 and 14: - to introduce a Personal Advocacy
Page 15 and 16: 2006 - year in review 14
Page 17 and 18: the department’s goals > Goal 1:
Page 19 and 20: goal 1: retired and older people To
Page 21 and 22: Government is committed to respondi
Page 23 and 24: goal 1: retired and older people 22
Page 25 and 26: goal 2: people of working age To pr
Page 27 and 28: As part of Budget 2006, periods spe
Page 29 and 30: This project has been developed and
Page 31 and 32: Initiatives introduced in 2006 unde
Page 33 and 34: Appendix to Chapter 5 > Development
Page 35 and 36: Goal 2: people of working age 34
Page 37 and 38: Goal 3: children To ensure the well
Page 39: Ending Child Poverty Special Initia
Page 43 and 44: goal 4: coverage, access and entitl
Page 45 and 46: OBJECTIVE 7 Provide a satisfactory
Page 49 and 50: f) Debt Recovery Considerable effor
Page 53 and 54: goal 5: poverty, social inclusion a
Page 59 and 60: • An emphasis on practical, budg
Page 63 and 64: goal 6: the department and its staf
Page 67 and 68: formal training courses, SDU contin
Page 69 and 70: Governance and Management of Resour
Page 73 and 74: improvement programme. This include
Page 75 and 76: submissions from representative gro
Page 77 and 78: appendices Appendix 1: Status Repor
Page 79 and 80: Appendix 2: Summary Of DSFA Budget
Page 81 and 82: Appendix 2: Summary of DSFA Budget
Page 83 and 84: Appendix 2: Summary of DSFA Budget
Page 85 and 86: Appendix 3: Expenditure on Social W
Page 87 and 88: APPENDIX 4: LEGISLATION ENACTED IN
Page 89 and 90: S.I. 169 of 2006 SOCIAL WELFARE LAW
Page 91 and 92:
appendices These Regulations retain
Page 93 and 94:
appendices for the purposes of impl
Page 95 and 96:
S.I. No. 497 of 2006 SOCIAL WELFARE
Page 97 and 98:
Regulations currently provide that
Page 99 and 100:
(b) refrain from behaviour which is
Page 101 and 102:
Improving our telephone answering s
Page 103 and 104:
appendices APPENDIX 6: PUBLIC PROCU
Page 105 and 106:
Appendix 7: Scheme Name Changes In
Page 107 and 108:
appendices 106
Page 109 and 110:
Appendix 10: Ministers In Charge Of
show all

department of social and family affairs annual report 2006 - Welfare.ie

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?