asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he proposes to introduce a Bill to amend the Social Welfare code regarding compensation for work injuries, in view of the inadequate compensation now paid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Compensation for Work Injuries.
20.
While the preparation of the legislation necessary to extend the State Social Insurance Scheme to provide for compensation for disablement or loss of life following occupational injury has made considerable progress, I cannot yet say when the measure will come before the Dáil.
In view of the Minister's reply, would he consider that there should be an interim increase given in the amount of benefits? Surely, he appreciates that £4 10s., at present money values, is a very small sum.
I appreciate that but I do not think it would be advisable to give interim increases under the present scheme. While £4 10s. a week is the maximum payable in workmen's compensation at the moment, it is a fact that a man with a wife and two or more children will have that supplemented by disability benefit.
Surely the Minister appreciates it is unfair to have the State subsidising insurance companies under the workmen's compensation code.
I do not agree there is any subsidisation of insurance companies involved.
If not, will he give us some other expression to describe the giving of amounts of up to £4 or £5 a week to people insured under the Social Welfare Acts because the amount of workmen's compensation is inadequate?
The amounts paid by insurance companies, is of course, related to the premiums paid by the employers.
A man can get extra only if he has a wife and two children?
Or more.
In most cases where there are large families the workmen in receipt of £4 10s. a week have to make application for home assistance to supplement that sum and they have to give a written undertaking to repay the amounts to the council. Does the Minister think that is right? I think it is terrible.
Six years of this delay were due to the fact that Deputy Corish could not get his colleagues to allow him to do anything about it.
Hear, hear.
Would the Minister not agree it was Deputy Corish who set up the Workmen's Compensation Commission which the Minister's Government did not think of doing?
I believe Deputy Corish intended to do something about it but he was prevented by his colleagues.
Mr. Ryan
By a change of Government.
Where does the Minister get the six years?
That is how long it took.
That was not the fault of Deputy Corish. Does the Minister not appreciate that this amount of compensation has obtained for nine years? Surely the Minister could introduce a short Bill to provide for an increase pending the comprehensive legislation he has promised.
I said I did not think that would be advisable, that the preparation of this legislation has now reached an advanced stage.
The Minister said that last year too—this time 12 months exactly.
There are many of these people on the verge of starvation. It is very serious for them.
Has the Minister no weight?