asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider the introduction of a non-contributory allowance scheme for single women which would ensure that all women would have security and a guaranteed minimum weekly income; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Single Women's Allowances.
8.
Single women are already eligible to receive a variety of benefits by way of social insurance and social assistance from my Department in relation to contingencies such as sickness, unemployment, retirement and old age. In the past year the substantial increases in the rates of benefit and the extension of services to new classes have done much to help single women. The extension of services included reduction in the minimum age for old age pension, removal of restrictive conditions for the receipt of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance in the case of women employed in domestic service or agriculture and the introduction of an unmarried mother's allowance.
I might mention also that the social insurance arrangements were specially altered some time ago to enable credited contributions to be given to women who give up their employment to look after an aged and incapacitated relative for any period in which the assisted relative had been receiving a prescribed relative allowance or an old age (care) allowance in respect of them. This change ensures that eligible single women are able to maintain continuity of their insurance for unemployment benefit, disability benefit, retirement pension and other social insurance benefit purposes.
I am aware, however, that notwithstanding all these measures there are single women, no longer young, living in conditions of financial hardship. The question of providing assistance for such women is at present under examination in my Department.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are many spinsters, some old and others not so old, who for one reason or another have been taking care of their parents who subsequently have departed this life, leaving these spinsters untrained for any employment and living in fairly poor circumstances? While the home assistance scheme does provide some allowance, I would submit to him that that allowance is more by way of charity. I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he would consider formulating a proper scheme for spinsters who are not employable, so to speak, which would be a good social step forward.
The question of charity mentioned in the Deputy's supplementary does not arise. It is important that people realise that any benefit they receive from the Department of Social Welfare is theirs by right. In regard to the other points raised by the Deputy, there is a recognition in the Department that considerable hardship can be caused and has been caused to single women giving up employment to look after an aged mother or father or other relative. The change that would allow credit and contributors to be given to provide continuity in their entitlement to Social Welfare benefits is a recognition of that. However, as I indicated in the last part of the answer, notwithstanding the changes that have been made in the past year, the Minister realises that this is an area of considerable hardship, and that matter is being examined at the moment in the Department.