77. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the review carried out by his Department on the system of means tests for all schemes in his Department; and if he will lay the report before the House. [67512/26]

A comprehensive review of means testing in the social protection system is currently underway in my Department.  This will take into account the report on Means Testing in the Social Welfare System in Ireland published by the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and the Islands.  The purpose of the review of means testing is to look at the different means-tested schemes and to identify any issues in terms of the application of their respective means test.

It is my intention that the review's findings will inform decisions regarding potential changes to means testing in future.  The review is currently being finalised and reviewed internally, and I expect that it will be submitted to me shortly.

Any prospective changes to means-testing arrangements would need to be evaluated and considered within the overall policy and budgetary context.