asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider granting a Christmas bounty to needy social welfare recipients.
19.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Christmas Bonus.
18.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends to grant a double week's pension to all contributory and non-contributory pensioners for Christmas this year.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.
In view of the unprecedented increases granted from July of this year in all rates of social insurance and social assistance payments, I do not propose to introduce legislation for the purpose of making a special Christmas payment.
Would the Minister not accept that many old people will be denied the basic Christmas fare because of the increased cost of many food items?
I am fully aware of the needs of old age pensioners and those who must live on social welfare and social assistance allowances but provision was not made for a double payment to contributory and non-contributory pensioners to whom the Deputy refers. Might I say that the only time I remember a double payment being given to old age pensioners was in 1955.
Would the Minister not concede that the Government have failed miserably in the last few months to stabilise prices——
The votes in Monaghan did not prove that.
Would it not be a gesture to old age pensioners to give them a Christmas bounty?
A bigger gesture to old age pensioners was given last May than was ever given before.
It is no thanks to the Labour Party.
Can the Minister tell us what it would cost to give an extra week's old age pension to all pensioners?
That is a separate question.
I am afraid I have not that information but I think it fair to say I gave them their Christmas box in July as distinct from August.
Does that mean that the Minister has not considered the matter?
Apart from the money aspect, it would need legislation also. I am sure the House would give me the legislation in a matter of minutes if it were proposed.
Why not propose it?
The former Ministers for Social Welfare in the Deputy's regime were asked to do this but they did not budge. The only time old age pensioners got the benefit was in 1955 when I was Minister for Social Welfare. This year they got the payment for four weeks in July as distinct from usual date of payment in August.
They got the Christmas box that was provided by Fianna Fáil.
I am calling Question No. 20.