asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the total increase of revenue derived from increased contributions to social insurance funds during the year 1948-49 and estimated for the year 1949-50.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Insurance Funds.
Under the Social Welfare Act, 1948, provision was made for increased payments to beneficiaries under various social services, and in other cases cash supplements formerly paid under an Emergency Powers Order were consolidated with the basic statutory rates of benefit. The Act also provided for higher contributions but the increased revenue so derived in respect of the 1948-49 year is not yet known as the returns of stamps sold at post offices in recent months are not available.
The amount of such increased revenue for the quarter ended 31st December, 1948, was £156,191. The estimated amount of the increased revenue in the year 1949-50 is £1,071,000 made up of £579,000 from employers and £492,000 from insured persons.