Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
761. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details of all active interdepartmental, interagency, and department-agency working groups organised under his remit. [10162/26]
View answerThe table below provides a list of the relevant interdepartmental and department-agency working groups that are organised by my Department, along with the purpose of the group, and the names of the departments and agencies involved. Some of these groups are organised on a bilateral basis with other Departments and accordingly, may be mentioned by other departments responding to this question.
|
Name of active interdepartmental, interagency or department-agency working group |
Description of the purpose of the working group |
Details of other Departments/Agencies/Bodies involve |
|
Interdepartmental Working Group - School Meals Programme |
Interdepartmental Working Group to examine ways to build a stronger interdepartmental perspective and approaches across departments in matters relating to the School Meals Programme |
Department of Education and Youth Department of Health Department of Children, Equality and Disability Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
|
High Level Group (HLG) – Department of Social Protection/Department of Health/Health Service Executive (HSE) |
HLG To discuss and progress issues of mutual interest |
Department of Health, Health Service Executive |
|
High Level Group (HLG) – Department of Social Protection / Department of Education and Youth |
HLG deals with strategic issues and interactions between the two organisations |
Department of Education and Youth |
|
High Level Group (HLG) – Department of Social Protection / Revenue Commissioners |
HLG deals with strategic issues and interactions between the two organisations |
Revenue Commissioners |
|
High Level Group (HLG) -Department of Social Protection / Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
HLG deals with strategic oversight and alignment between the two Departments on areas where employment services, skills policy, and further/higher education intersect |
Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
|
Working Group to renew the Protocol for the provision of Employment Services to ex – offenders. |
To develop a DSP/TOSÚ protocol for the provision of Employment Services to Ex-Offenders |
TOSÚ, Irish Prison Service |
|
Abhaile Joint Working Group |
The Departments of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and Social Protection co-chair a joint working group. The Joint Working Group focuses on Abhaile’s operation and the efficient and effective delivery of its services, resources, and other strategic matters. |
The Abhaile Working Group’s membership includes representatives of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI), the Legal Aid Board (LAB), and the Courts Service. |
|
Interdepartmental EPSCO coordination working group |
To discuss and coordinate briefing for EPSCO Council of Ministers |
Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Department of Children, Equality and Disability Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
