Nevertheless, the Opposition have 15 minutes in which to reply to the debate on their own motion, and on this amendment. However, I accept unequivocally the ruling of the Chair. I intend to bring the matter to the notice of the proper authorities as urged by the Chair.
I should like to bring to the attention of the House that the Fine Gael motion is superfluous in many ways in the light of what has already been done. Sections 59 and 60 of the Health Bill, which is now almost through this House, deal with home nursing and home-help services. If Fine Gael had done their homework they would have realised that this motion was unnecessary. I would remind the Fine Gael movers of the motion that legislation will have to be introduced to bring about this situation. In the city and county of Dublin a first-rate home-help and home nursing service has been in train for a considerable length of time.
It is important to pay tribute to all those organisations who involve themselves in this type of social activity. Now it has been enshrined in legislation and, if the Fine Gael Party had their wits about them, they would know that the Fianna Fáil Party are providing for the very things called for in their motion. There is no Standing Order which deals with superfluities. However, that is another day's work.
In relation to the contributions that have been made over the years for the non-contributory old age and blind pensions, there has been a lot of criticism of the lack of finance made available for those people by the proposer and seconder of this motion. In fact, since 1957 there has been an increase of almost 150 per cent in the amounts given to this social security class. For the information of the House, and for the record, I should like to back up this point by giving the actual figures.
Non-contributory old age and blind pensions: as from May, 1957, 25/-; as from August, 1959, 27/6; as from August, 1960, 28/6; as from August, 1961, 30/-; as from August, 1962, 32/6; as from November, 1963, 35/-; as from November, 1964, 37/6; as from August, 1965, 47/6; as from November, 1966, 52/6; as from August, 1967, 57/6; as from August, 1968, 65/-; as from August, 1969, 75/-. This, in fact, represents an increase of just under 150 per cent from 1957 to 1969 in terms of increases given to this particular social welfare class.
This includes dependants also. If I may read again for the benefit of the Fine Gael Party who made the suggestion that we on this side of the House are not concerned with this type of individual, or these types of individuals, as from November, 1964, a pensioner with one or two children received 10/-, and so on, up to the present when they now receive 12/6. Also the situation in relation to the increase for each child in excess of two is 5/- up to 7/6. These are all areas where we are very well aware of our obligations in relation to the accusations made against us by the Fine Gael Party.
That is not to say that we are satisfied with the moneys given to these people. I should like to be able to go to an old age pensioner in the morning and say: "Right. You will get £10 or £20 a week as from now." I am sure this is what we all wish, but the problem is the availability of cash. The considerable increases that have been given certainly show this awareness of which I speak.
I am surprised that the Labour Party should be absent from a debate with such a high social content as the debate on motion and our proposed amendment. When they were putting down this motion, the Fine Gael Party neglected to take note of the substantial improvements in recent years, which I have outlined, in the rates of the non-contributory old age pensions and the granting of additional benefits such as free travel, free radio and television licences and free electricity. Indeed, we urge the Government to continue giving increases to social welfare recipients of all kinds and of all classes.
That is the reason we put down our amendment which was not accepted by the House on the grounds outlined by the Chair. The Chair was within the rules of the House and we must accept that. Maybe we will change the rules with the help of the Committee which deals with the rules of this House.
In relation to the question of free television I often feel that the manufacturers of television sets—the big companies and so on—have an obligation when they get old sets back to consider repairing them, instead of breaking them up, making them workable and handing them over to the organisations who look after old people who are possibly living on their own. These repaired television sets could be given to them. Company is a great problem for old people, and particularly for people living on their own. Boredom and lack of friendship are problems which relate to the question of the undesirability of having people living on their own.
There is definitely a move by various local authorities to have as many old people as possible grouped together in housing schemes on the one hand and, on the other hand, to have old people living with young people in different accommodation. These are important developments of which the Fine Gael Party do not seem to be aware. I am sure they are, but apparently they are not. These are all very important developments which are taking place in relation to this whole question of pensions and of old people living on their own and so forth.
As one who has some experience of organisations which deal with this question of a home-help and home nursing, I should like to pay particular tribute to them and, in my own constituency, to the Dún Laoghaire Borough Old Folks Association, the Sallynoggin Old Folks Association, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and other communities which exist in this city of ours. An organisation which receives very little publicity for the work it does is the Simon Community. I mentioned it in a previous discussion on this motion but I did not have an opportunity to elaborate on the work done by the Simon Community.
This is a community, Sir, as I am sure you are aware, which is made up of strenuous young people—and this will disabuse the minds of those who criticise our young people. There are students, who again come in for a lot of unnecessary and unworthy criticism, civil servants and others. These people deal with men, and possibly women, who have rejected society due to some problem. Perhaps there may have been a family split-up or they may not be able to face up to their responsibilities. There are people of that nature. I may have an opportunity of proposing a motion relating to this very problem in the future.
This is the problem of those people who are not being catered for in any of the worthy institutions which cater for people who cannot afford to pay regular board. Members of the Simon Community work between the hours of 11.30 p.m. and 5 or 6 o'clock in the morning, going around this city of ours to try to comfort those people who cannot afford the available accommodation. It is a sorry tale to have to tell this House that that actually exists in our city. That is the type of work done by this community. They give these people some sort of succour. All they can really give them is food and the hope that maybe they will come around the following night to assist them in their hour of need. These are the types of organisations that do a great deal of good in our community in relation to this motion by the Fine Gael Party. I do not want to continue much further, because I believe the context of the motion is very important; as for the reason it was put down, that is another day's work. I am sure all Members of this House must agree with it. Before I sit down I should like to apologise to you, Sir, if in any way I embarrassed you by bringing up this amendment of ours, because you would be the last person I should like to embarrass.
