asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that the estimated number of farm employees in Economic Statistics, 1960. Table 7, for 1958 is 92,700 (89,700 for 1959) while the number of agricultural social insurance stamps sold in the year ended 31st March, 1959, represented only about 57,000 man-years of agricultural employment; and whether in view of the enormous difference in the employment statistics as revealed by the sale of insurance stamps, there is in his opinion large scale evasion in card stamping in agriculture; and if he will indicate the measures taken by his Department for the protection of the income of the Social Insurance Fund.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Insurance Fund: Evasion in Payment of Contributions.
12.
The significance of the different estimates of employment in agriculture mentioned by the Deputy is explained in replies to his questions addressed to the Taoiseach on to-day's Order Paper.
Whether or not there is large scale evasion in payment of Social Insurance contributions is, as the Deputy's question indicates, largely one of opinion. In the absence of clear positive evidence, one way or the other, I do not feel that much weight would attach to any opinion I might express and, therefore, I would ask the Deputy to excuse me from doing so.
In reply to the latter part of the Deputy's question the present position is that standing instructions require every Social Welfare Officer to visit every employer in his district at least once every three years. If there were full co-operation on the part of the public generally, and especially by insured persons, this would be sufficient to check evasion. In the absence of this co-operation even more frequent visitations, involving greater cost to the taxpayer, would not be likely to be more effective. I should add that, in view of the fact that failure to stamp insurance cards in accordance with the law increases the cost of social insurance to all honest citizens, I should be very grateful, indeed, for any information which would justify the prosecution of a person who has evaded his responsibilities under the Social Welfare Acts.