asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount expended on each type of benefit and assistance administered by his Department for each year from the 1st April, 1956, to the latest available date.
Written Answer. - Social Welfare Expenditure.
24.
The information is as follows:—
|
Expenditure on Benefits |
Year ended |
||||
|
31/3/'57 |
31/3/'58 |
31/3/'59 |
31/3/'60 |
31/3/'61 (a) |
|
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Disability Benefit |
3,467,254 |
4,042,075 |
3,981,379 |
3,975,132 |
4,409,000 |
|
Unemployment Benefit |
3,293,112 |
3,323,061 |
3,108,466 |
2,900,072 |
2,683,000 |
|
Marriage Benefit |
73,599 |
70,314 |
71,900 |
74,930 |
76,000 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
109,325 |
113,786 |
110,796 |
114,371 |
124,000 |
|
Widows' (Contributory) Pensions |
1,656,577 |
1,853,578 |
1,906,774 |
1,958,181 |
2,297,000 |
|
Orphans' (Contributory) Allowances |
17,402 |
14,344 |
13,787 |
12,188 |
15,000 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
224,593 |
229,783 |
229,838 |
248,544 |
334,000 |
|
Old Age (Contributory) Pensions |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1,040,000 |
|
Expenditure on Assistance |
|||||
|
Old Age Pensions |
10,178,844 |
10,500,838 |
10,366,152 |
10,916,071 |
11,276,000 |
|
Children's Allowances |
5,365,248 |
6,829,084 |
7,072,584 |
7,079,303 |
7,094,000 |
|
Unemployment Assistance |
1,136,761 |
1,429,895 |
1,399,910 |
1,264,901 |
1,120,000 |
|
Widows' and Orphans' (Non-Contributory) Pensions |
1,682,206 |
1,701,854 |
1,644,802 |
1,694,110 |
1,783,000 |
|
Grants under the Education (Provision of Meals) Acts, 1914 to 1930 |
80,740 |
83,455 |
76,187 |
79,652 |
80,000 |
|
Grants under the School Meals (Gaeltacht) Acts, 1930 and 1933 |
10,079 |
10,270 |
9,135 |
10,311 |
10,000 |
|
Welfare of the Blind |
17,220 |
31,662 |
13,713 |
18,713 |
19,000 |
|
Grants towards the supply of fuel for necessitous families |
176,998 |
179,749 |
167,178 |
161,967 |
151,000 |
|
Grants towards the supply of Footwear for necessitous children |
37,500 |
37,500 |
35,366 |
35,199 |
34,000 |
(a)The figures given for the year ended 31st March, 1961, are estimated.