asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider raising the income limit from the present figure per annum of £1,200 for the purpose of paying social welfare contributions.
65.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Insurance.
64.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, further to his reply of 10th July, 1969, he has at yet reached any decision as to when and by what amount he is prepared to raise the current £1,200 income limit for social insurance.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 65 together.
Necessary inter-departmental consultations in regard to the remuneration limit for social insurance purposes applicable in the case of non-manual workers are in train.
I hope to be able to make my recommendation to the Government in the matter in the near future.
Could the Minister say how long this figure of £1,200 has remained unchanged?
It has been in existence for more than five years, since 6th September, 1965. It is due for review.
Surely the Minister gave exactly the same reply last July?
Not merely did I give that reply but I initiated the necessary procedure which meant sending a communication to all the Departments concerned. That has been done and is now ready for submission to the Government.
If late October was the near future in July——
I was filled with good hopes.
I forgot that the Government were busy.
Notwithstanding the fact that I got the reply last July that the matter would be reviewed in the near future—I may say that I do not regard it as of great moment—it should not require any great effort on the part of the public servants involved to estimate the increase, which would not amount to a great deal. The more important point is whether the Minister, in raising the limit, will make it a wage related social insurance contributory scheme.
We have accepted this in principle, as the Deputy knows.
The Minister knows that during the past five years many workers have gone over the £1,200 limit. I know, of course, that the Government are anxious to keep them below £1,200 for another year at least.
I hope to abolish the limit entirely, but that would require legislation.
It will not cost very much.
In the meantime I will raise the limit.
Will it be November 12 months?
This time I will say nothing.