asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total value in each of the three years, 1923, 1924 and 1925, of the contributions in respect of unemployment insurance paid by (a) employers, (b) workmen, (c) the State, respectively, and the total amount of the unemployment benefit paid to insured persons in each of these three years.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TOTAL VALUE OF INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS.
During the years 1923, 1924 and 1925 the Unemployment Fund received the sums of £508,000, £682,000, and £619,000, respectively in respect of contributions by employers and employed persons; and the sums of £181,000, £243,000 and £220,000, respectively, as State Grants. Under the present system of accounting it is not possible to give the exact amounts paid by employers as distinct from employed persons.
The employers' and employees' portions of the contributions during the years in question are, however, estimated to be as follows:—
|
Year. |
Employers' Contributions. |
Employees' Contributions. |
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
1923 |
269,000 |
239,000 |
|
1924 |
361,000 |
321,000 |
|
1925 |
328,000 |
291,000 |
The total amount of Unemployment Benefit paid in each of the years 1923, 1924 and 1925, was £733,000, £974,000 and £890,000 respectively. In addition to these amounts the sum of £55,000 was paid as special benefit to certain ex-members of the military forces of Saorstát Eireann in the year 1925.
Would the Minister give any explanation with regard to the drop in the contributions in the year 1925 as compared with the year 1924?
Presumably there was less employment.
Is the Minister satisfied that it was due solely to decrease in employment and not to less compliance with the Act?
I have very little doubt on that. I think there is considerably more compliance year by year with the Act. There is a very distinct advance in that respect. When I say that it is due to decreased employment I mean decreased employment in insurable occupations.