asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will remove the income limit of 50p per day above which social welfare unemployment benefit is not payable.
25.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Benefit.
24.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he proposes to raise the remuneration limit or the profit limit from a subsidiary occupation.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.
The limitation referred to is solely a yardstick for the purpose of measuring the extent and significance of a subsidiary occupation in determining a claimant's availability for normal full-time work. It cannot therefore be dispensed with. However, the question of raising the amount of the limit is under consideration.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that under present circumstances the limit is much too low and should be substantially increased?
I can tell the Deputy that it is under active consideration at the moment.
26.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of (a) men and (b) women who will be compulsorily insured as a result of the removal of the £1,600 remuneration limit.
The estimated total number of persons who will become compulsorily insured on removal of the £1,600 remuneration limit is 70,000. Separate estimates for men and women are not available.
27.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he proposes to include farmers and other self-employed persons in the compulsory insurance system.
Self-employed persons as a class, including farmers, present many special features from the social insurance point of view and it has to be considered whether they could best be included in the general scheme of compulsory insurance or in some special scheme either on a compulsory or voluntary basis. My Department are at present engaged on a full examination of all the problems involved in this matter with a view to the formulation of suitable proposals.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary any idea when a decision will be reached on this matter?
No, I cannot give the Deputy a definite date but I can tell the Deputy that we consider it a very important part of the Government's commitment for a fully comprehensive social insurance system and some progress has been made not only at home but in Europe. At the initiative of the Irish Government the Social Policy Committee of the European Council have accepted an extension of coverage to persons inadequately covered or persons not already covered. This was at the initiative of the Irish Government and it indicates the concern of the present Government to extend coverage to these people.
28.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state (a) the number of permanent and pensionable employees of semi-State bodies with remuneration in excess of £1,600 per annum who will be compulsorily insured from April next (b) the cost of the social insurance stamp and (c) the cost to the employee and the benefits to which he will be entitled.
29.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state (a) the number of permanent and pensionable State employees with remuneration in excess of £1,600 per annum who will be compulsorily insured from April, 1974 (b) the cost of the social insurance stamp and (c) the cost to the employee and the benefits to which he will be entitled.
30.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state (a) the number of permanent and pensionable employees of local authorities with remuneration in excess of £1,600 per annum who will be compulsorily insured from April, 1974 (b) the cost of the insurance stamp and (c) the cost to the employee and the benefits to which he will be entitled.
31.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state (a) the number of permanent and pensionable employees of regional health boards with remuneration in excess of £1,600 per annum who will be compulsorily insured from April next (b) the cost of the social insurance stamp and (c) the cost to the employee and the benefits to which he will be entitled.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 29, 30 and 31 together.
The classes of employees for which the Deputy seeks figures are not all distinguished in available statistics, and I am supplying him in this reply with the estimates of the number of persons who will fall into certain classes at present covered by social welfare insurance at the modified rate.
It is estimated that 25,000 permanent and pensionable State employees and 15,000 permanent and pensionable employees of local or other public authorities and statutory transport undertakings will come into compulsory insurance on the abolition of the £1,600 limit on 1st April, 1974. The figure of 15,000 includes employees of health boards and their hospitals and of numerous other bodies, some of which might be regarded as semi-State bodies, but no separate figures for these are available. All these employees will only be insured for widows' and orphans' pensions and, with certain minor exceptions, occupational injuries benefit. The weekly contributions will be 80p for men and 53p for women. Of these amounts the male employees will pay 39p and female employees 15p.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say if permanent employees outside the public sector who are already covered by pension schemes will be entitled to full benefits, including the contributory old age pensions?
Yes, if they are covered for full benefit they will be entitled to full benefit.
If they are already in pensionable employment are they entitled to the old age pension?
There is no means test for a contributory old age pension, and this does not arise.
I am aware that the means test does not apply for the contributory old age pension but why not include the State employees?
Is the Deputy suggesting that I should?
I have asked the Parliamentary Secretary why they are not included.
It is not proposed to include State employees at this point.