asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will raise the insurable limit for non-manual workers from its present ceiling of £1,200 per annum.
38.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Insurable Income Limit.
37.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when it is proposed to increase the insurability income limit over £1,200; and to what amount he proposes to increase it.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 38 together.
Proposals with regard to the level of the remuneration limit for social insurance purposes applicable in the case of non-manual workers have been submitted for the approval of the Government. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement very shortly.
Could the Minister say what the amount is likely to be? As he is probably aware, since the last round of wage increases a number of people have, in fact, gone over the limit and this is a matter of urgency. It is not a State secret. Since the Minister has been promising to give us this information for the past eight or nine months, surely he could hazard a guess as to what the limit is likely to be now and the date from which it is likely to operate. There is no reason why the Minister should refuse to give that information even if it is still before the Government.
It is before the Government at the moment.
The Minister said it was before the Government. Surely he can mention a figure. Is it £1,600 or £1,800?
I cannot anticipate a Government decision.
The Minister is recommending it. Surely it is not a State secret?
What did the Minister recommend?
I will not tell the Deputy.
The Minister will not tell us because it is not before the Government at all.
I guarantee that it is.
The Minister told us that last October.
What did the Minister recommend?
This is pretty stupid. The Minister is an intelligent man and he should not do that kind of thing.
If the Deputy reads my speech on the Estimate he will see that I gave my opinion as to what the limit should be.
The Minister said that last October but he did not do anything about it.
There are more factors involved and the Deputy is not so naïve as not to know that there are. I will have a decision in the course of a week.
If I put down a question next week will the Minister be able to answer it?
Who makes the decision?
Could we get on with questions? Question No. 39.