asked the Taoiseach if he will state the purchasing power in 1939 money values of the present maximum allowance to (a) an unmarried old age pensioner, (b) a married old age pensioner, (c) a widow with two children and (d) an unemployed man with three children who is drawing unemployment assistance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchasing Power of Social Services Allowances.
I intend, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the required information. As no index of retail prices appropriate to the particular categories of persons mentioned in the question is available the general Consumer Price Index has been used in making the required calculations.
Following is the statement:—
Estimated sums of money necessary in 1939 to purchase the same volume of goods and services as the present maximum allowances made to the undermentioned categories of persons:—
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s. d. |
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(a) Old Age Pension for an unmarried pensioner |
9/11 a week |
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(b) Old Age Pension for a married old age pensioner |
9/11 a week |
|
(Note: If a husband and wife are both eligible each can get a pension). |
|
|
(c) Pension for a widow with 2 children (contributory scheme) |
19/– a week |
|
Pension for a widow with 2 children (non-contributory) |
15/1 a week |
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(7) Unemployment Assistance for a man with 3 (or 2) children |
15/8 a week |