asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the estimated cost of increasing the maximum unemployment assistance payments by ten shillings per week and of pro-rata increases in respect of lower payments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance Payments.
11.
It is estimated that an additional annual sum of approximately £356,000 would be required to provide an increase of 10/- per week in the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable under the Social Welfare Act, 1959, and pro rata increases in the other rates.
I should point out, however, that an increase of this order in the rates of unemployment assistance, if applied to the other assistance and benefit payments made by my Department, would entail a further increase in expenditure of over £7,000,000 annually.