The NERI webinar on The Future of the Irish Social Welfare System took place on Wednesday 24th March, 2021 at 15:00.
The talk was based on a recently completed NESC study on 'The Future of the Irish Social Welfare System: Participation and Protection', co-authored by Dr Helen Johnston, Senior Social Policy Anslyst, NESC and Dr Anne-Marie McGauran, NESC. The presentation set out the main challenges facing the social welfare system and addressed these in four main sections:
• Ensuring income adequacy and alleviating poverty;
• Modernising family supports to reflect gender and care needs;
• Supporting high participation, including a pilot on participation income; and
• Enhancing financial sustainability.
Reference was made to the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic for the social welfare system.
Webinar format:
Dr Helen Johnson, NESC began the webinar by presenting findings on the NESC study on 'The Future of the Irish Welfare System: Participation and Protection'. Following the initial presentation the discussant, Michael Taft, SIPTU researcher commented and analysed different aspects of the paper & Dr Anne-Marie McGauran, NESC joined them for the Q & A section.
Dr Helen Johnston's presentation from the webinar is below and a blog by Michael Taft is here. The YouTube link to the webinar is here.