asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated cost to the Exchequer in the financial year 1973-74 of increasing all rates of unemployment assistance by £1 per week.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
38.
I am not clear from the Deputy's question whether he refers solely to the personal rates of unemployment assistance or whether the suggested increase of £1 a week would also be applicable to the rates payable in respect of both adult dependants and child dependants.
In the former case the cost to the Exchequer in a full year would be of the order of £2.6 million.
In the former case the cost would be of the order of £8.3 million.
Is provision for these increases made in the Book of Estimates which we received some days ago?
The Deputy will appreciate that details of the budget cannot be disclosed.
Are they provided for in the Book of Estimates?
Sin ceist eile.
May I point out to the Parliamentary Secretary that these were firm election commitments and, therefore, one assumes they are provided for in the Book of Estimates.
The Deputy asked a specific question and he has been given a reply.
He did not get an answer.
If the Deputy has a further question I suggest that he should submit it.
39.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated cost to the Exchequer in the financial year 1973-74 of increasing by £1 per week (a) the rates of employment and disability benefit and (b) invalidity pensions.
The estimates of cost based on an increase in the personal rates are unemployment benefit, £660,000; disability benefit, £1,308,000, invalidity pensions, £126,000.
The costings have been based on the assumption that two-thirds of the cost of the increase would be borne by the contributions of employers and employees, the remaining one-third being borne by the Exchequer.
40.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated cost to the Exchequer in the financial year 1973-74 of abolishing the means test and increasing by £1 per week the non-contributory old age, widows, orphans and blind pensions, the deserted wife and the old age (care) allowances.
The estimated cost in a full year calculated on the basis of providing the increased payments to all existing recipients of the pensions or allowances referred to as well as to persons in the classes concerned who are not now receiving such pensions or allowances or equivalent social insurance benefits, is £30 million.
Is that provided for in the Book of Estimates?
Sin ceist eile. I would point out to the Deputy that the Book of Estimates is in the Library.
41.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated cost to the Exchequer in the financial year 1973-74 of reducing the qualifying age for contributory and non-contributory old age pensions to 65 years of age.
It is estimated that the extra cost to the Exchequer in a full year at present rates would be of the order of £18 million.
42.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated cost to the Exchequer in the financial year 1973-74 of increasing contributory old age, widows and retirement pensions and orphan's allowances by £1 per week.
On the basis that the Exchequer would bear one-third of the cost, the remainder being divided between employers and employees, the estimated cost to the Exchequer of increasing the personal rates of pensions and allowances referred to by £1 per week is as follows:
Old age (contributory) pensions, £825,000; widow's (contributory) pensions, £1,007,000; retirement pensions, £207,000; orphan's allowances, £13,000.
43.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated cost to the Exchequer in the financial year 1973-74 of increasing the allowance paid to each qualified child by £1.50 per month under the children's allowances scheme.
The cost to the Exchequer in a full year is estimated at £18,200,000.