asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give comparative figures for the social welfare services in this State and in the North of Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Welfare Figures.
11.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
|
Type of payment |
Rate in the State |
Rate in Northern Ireland |
|
(per week) |
(per week) |
|
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
SOCIAL INSURANCE: |
||
|
Disability (Sickness) and Unemployment Benefits: |
||
|
Basic Rate |
9.40 |
9.80 |
|
Adult dependant |
6.10 |
6.10 |
|
1st Child |
2.65 |
3.10 |
|
2nd child |
2.65 |
1.60 |
|
other children (each) |
2.20 |
1.60 |
|
Maternity Allowance |
9.40 |
9.80 |
|
Pay-Related Benefit |
14.40 |
9.37 |
|
(max.) |
(max.) |
|
|
Invalidity Pension: |
||
|
Basic Rate |
9.40 |
11.60 |
|
Adult dependant |
6.10 |
6.90 |
|
1st child |
2.65 |
5.65 |
|
2nd child |
2.65 |
4.15 |
|
other children (each) |
2.20 |
4.15 |
|
Widows' (Contributory) Pension: |
||
|
Basic Rate 1st 26 weeks |
9.50 |
16.20 |
|
after 26 weeks |
9.50 |
11.60 |
|
1st child |
3.15 |
5.65 |
|
each other child |
3.15 |
4.15 |
|
Orphans' (Contributory) Allowance |
6.90 |
5.65 |
|
Retirement/Old Age (Contributory) Pensions: |
||
|
Basic Rate (under 80) |
10.50 |
11.60 |
|
(80 and over) |
11.10 |
11.85 |
|
Adult dependant |
6.65 |
6.90 |
|
(under 67) |
(under 80) |
|
|
7.90 |
7.15 |
|
|
(67 and over) |
(80 and over) |
|
|
1st child |
2.65 |
6.55 |
|
2nd child |
2.65 |
4.15 |
|
each other child |
2.20 |
4.15 |
|
OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES: |
||
|
Injury Benefit |
13.10 |
12.55 |
|
Disablement Benefit (100%) |
13.10 |
19.00 |
|
Unemployability Supplement |
9.40 |
11.60 |
|
Constant Attendance Allowance |
4.95 |
7.60 |
|
Death Benefit Pensions 1st 26 weeks |
12.30 |
16.20 |
|
after 26 weeks |
12.30 |
12.15 |
|
Increase for dependants: |
||
|
Widows' benefit |
||
|
1st child |
3.15 |
5.65 |
|
each other child |
3.15 |
4.15 |
|
other benefits: |
||
|
adult |
6.10 |
6.10 |
|
1st child |
2.65 |
3.10 |
|
2nd child |
2.65 |
1.60 |
|
each other child |
2.20 |
1.60 |
|
CHILDREN'S ALLOWANCES: |
||
|
1st child |
2.30 |
Nil |
|
(per month) |
||
|
2nd child |
3.60 |
1.50 |
|
(per month) |
(per week) |
|
|
each other child |
4.35 |
1.50 |
|
(per month) |
(per week) |
Note: Owing to radical differences between the non-contributory schemes (other than Children's Allowances) of the two areas, a comparison of rates under those schemes is not practicable.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say if the various entitlements here compare favourably with those in Northern Ireland?
At a very brief glance and seeing that there are quite a number of them I can only say that some do and some do not.
We shall have to look at the tabular statement.
12.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cause of the long delay in the payment of social welfare entitlements to a person in Blackrock, County Dublin (name supplied).
The person named by the Deputy applied for a widow's contributory pension on 5th March, 1975. Although her late husband was employed in this country for approximately seven years before his death, he was not insured for widows' and orphans' pension purposes until April, 1974, when the insurability limit on earnings was abolished. The widow was not at any stage insured under the Social Welfare Acts. She is not, therefore, entitled to a contributory pension on the basis of either her own or her late husband's Irish insurance position.
Enquiries are, however, continuing as to the slight possibility of an effective insurance record in respect of her late husband's employment abroad. In the meantime, the question of her entitlement to a non-contributory pension is being examined.
This matter has been going on for two to three months. Can the Parliamentary Secretary say that it will be dealt with now as a matter of urgency?
It will be dealt with as soon as possible.
In the next week?
I could not say.
13.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cause of the long delay in the payment of social welfare entitlements to a person in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin (name supplied).
The person concerned applied for old age contributory pension in July, 1974. At that time he was in receipt of unemployment benefit which was continued in payment pending determination of his pension claim.
Examination of his pension claim showed that he had no title on the basis of his Irish insurance record alone, and he was informed accordingly. As, however, he also had a British insurance record, his entitlement falls to be determined under EEC regulations and is at present being investigated by the British authorities.
In the meantime, a non-contributory old age pension has been awarded and is being paid from the termination of the unemployment benefit.
I am very glad to see my question has brought about a situation that this man can claim a pension. Why does it take 12 months, an extraordinarily long time, to give this man a pension? He was told last week he would get it, arising out of my question, of course.
That does not seem to be the case. The person was in receipt of unemployment benefit and the non-contributory old age pension has been awarded and is being paid pending a final determination.
When can we expect it will be finally determined?
As soon as possible. The Deputy will appreciate that we have to cause inquiries to be made of the British authorities to find out his qualification under British regulations.
14.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he intends to end the discrimination in the social welfare code against widows and unmarried mothers in cases where there are adult dependants caring for their children.
This is one of the remaining recommendations of the Commission on the Status of Women which has not yet been dealt with and which, as I informed the Deputy on 1st May, 1975, in reply to a supplementary question, is under examination. It is not possible at this stage to anticipate the outcome of the examination.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this piece of discrimination is now enshrined in the Bill before the House, and would he give some undertaking that if I table an amendment to the Bill to eliminate this type of discrimination he will accept it?
The Deputy may be aware that a number of recommendations from the Commission on the Status of Women were made. Most of them affecting social welfare have already been dealt with and rectified.
There were 15 recommendations and only eight have been dealt with.
The Deputy is not quite correct. The chairman of the commission, Dr. Theckla Beere, has publicly acknowledged the progress that has been made in a relatively short time on the commission's recommendations. I am conscious of the fact that not all the injustices and inequities which were left to us by the previous Government have been cleared up, but it is widely acknowledged that considerable progress has been made.
I assure the Parliamentary Secretary that widows and unmarried mothers do not accept that. Will the Parliamentary Secretary accept my amendment to the Bill——
Be serious. Submit the amendment and find out.
Of course, it will be rejected.