asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state why the national health benefits were reduced as from 7th June, 1954, and not maintained at their former level as was done in the case of unemployment benefits.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Health Benefits.
It is presumed that the Deputy refers to disability benefit and marriage benefit formerly payable under the provisions of the National Health Insurance Acts and now under the Social Welfare Act, 1952, and it is not correct to say that these benefits were reduced as from the 7th June, 1954.
It has always been a feature of these benefits that the rate in a particular benefit year depended on the number of contributions paid and credited in the preceding contribution year. The effect of this could be to leave the rate of benefit unchanged or to increase or decrease it as compared with the rate in the preceding benefit year.