Tairgim:
Go ndeonófar suim fhorlíontach nach mó ná £1,136,000 chun íochta an mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31ú lá de Mhárta, 1965, le haghaidh Tuarastail agus Costais Oifig an Aire Leasa Shóisialaigh, le haghaidh Seirbhísí áirithe atá faoi riaradh na hOifige sin, le haghaidh íocaíochtaí leis an gCiste Árachais Shóisialaigh, agus le haghaidh Ildeontas.
'Sa Mheastachán Forlíontach seo táthar ar lorg suim bhreise de £1,136,000 in aghaidh na bliana 1964-65. Ceaptar go mbeidh breis caiteachais de £1,425,000 agus breis fáltaisí de £289,000, agus dá bhrí sin beidh suim ghlan de £1,136,000 ag teastáil chun fiacha na bliana seo a réiteach.
Tá gá le suimeanna breise le h-aghaigh costaisí riaracháin, FoMhírchínn A go C, de thoradh árduithe pá a deonadh i rith na bliana agus méadú i gcostaisí poist agus teileafóin. I gcás Árachais Shóisialaigh, Fo-Mhírcheann E, 'séard is cúis leis an méadú ná go bhfuil an caiteachas ar sochair áirithe, go mórmhór sochar míchumais agus sochar cóireála, ag dul i méad ó bhliain go bliain, agus ina theannta san tá méadú i gcostaisí riaracháin a íoctar as an gCiste Árachais Shóisialaigh. Meastar go mbeidh glan-mhéadú de £969,000 i gcaiteachas an Chiste ach táthar ag súil le breis fáltaisí agus mar sin 'sé £280,000 an tsuim ghlan atá de dhíth.
I gcás Cúnaimh Shóisialaigh 'sé is cúis leist an méadú ná na méadaithe i rátaí cúnaimh agus na feabhsanna eile ins na scéimeanna cúnaimh a tháinig i bhfeidhm i dtosach mí Lúnasa seo chaite. Beidh costas breise de £735,000 iníochtha sa bhliain seo de thoradh na leasuithe san. Tá spáráil beag, áfach, ar sheirbhísí áirithe agus dá bhrí sin 'sé £667,000 an máid atá ag teastáil anois.
The net additional sum required for Social Welfare in the current year is £1,136,000. This is the result of an estimated excess of £1,425,000 in gross expenditure offset by an estimated increase of £289,000 in Appropriations in Aid. The excess expenditure of £1,425,000 is apportioned between the main divisions of the Estimate as follows:—
Administration—Subheads A to C £478,000.
Social Insurance — Subhead E £280,000.
Social Assistance—Subheads G to J £667,000.
The increase in administration costs, £478,000, is due to factors such as salary increases awarded during the year, higher costs of travelling arising from increased mileage and subsistance rates, and increases in postal and telephone charges. The increased requirement under Social Insurance is attributable to a rising trend in the cost of certain benefits, in particular disability and treatment benefits, and to higher administration expenses. Total expenditure out of the Social Insurance Fund is estimated to show a net increase of £969,000 but, on the other hand, income to the Fund is expected to be £558,000 higher than was originally provided for. The Exchequer subvention required to meet the resultant addition to the Fund deficit of £411,000 is reduced to £280,000 because the Subhead E provision, as now revised, takes account of a sum of £131,000 due by the Fund to the Exchequer as at 31st March, 1964. The increase in receipts into the Social Insurance Fund is attributable to a continuing upward trend in the income from employment contributions and to an increase in receipts under Reciprocal Arrangements.
On the Social Assistance side the increased provision is required to meet the cost in the current year of the increased rates of payment and other improvements effected by the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1964. The total cost of implementing the provisions of the Act as regards Social Assistance is estimated at £735,000 in 1964-65, made up of £502,000 for old age pensions, £130,000 for unemployment assistance and £103,000 for widows' and orphans' pensions. The estimate for children's allowances is expected to be exceeded by £50,000 so that the total gross excess will amount to £785,000. There are, however, offsetting features. If it were not for the increased expenditure arising from the Social Welfare Act there would have been net savings amounting to £118,000, mainly on unemployment assistance and widows' and orphans' pensions, and when these savings are taken into account the additional sum required for Social Assistance becomes £667,000.
The expected surplus of £289,000 on Appropriations in Aid—Subhead L— is a direct consequence of the increased expenditure on the administration Subheads. The cost to my Department of administering the social insurance and social assistance schemes is met from the Social Welfare Vote. The costs relating to Social Insurance are, however, a charge on the Social Insurance Fund and are recouped from the Fund and appropriated in aid of the Vote. Thus, when there is increased expenditure on the administration of the social insurance scheme, there will automatically be an increase in the amount appropriated in aid of the Social Welfare Vote.
These are the main features of the Supplementary Estimate, to which I would ask the agreement of the House.