asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total amount paid in (a) unemployment benefit and (b) unemployment assistance in the period 1st January to 26th September, 1975.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
9.
In the period 1st January to 26th September, 1975, the total amount paid in unemployment benefit was approximately £30,110,000, and in unemployment assistance approximately £26,550,000. Increased rates of unemployment benefit and assistance come into operation in April, 1975, and these increases are reflected in the payments made from April to September, 1975, inclusive.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he has the figures for unemployment benefit and assistance for a similar period in 1974?
No, I am sorry, I have not.
Could I further ask if it is true that the system devised for unemployment assistance payments is presently being reviewed in his Department?
No.
That is untrue?
Yes, untrue. All aspects of the Department's operations are more or less continuously under review but the Deputy is implying that there is a particular review being carried out at the moment in relation to a specific aspect of the Department's operations. That would not be factual.
The Deputy is not implying anything——
I am sorry. I might have misunderstood the Deputy.
In fact, he is asking a question, if the Parliamentary Secretary can state whether there is presently a review——
We have had that question before. We have no time for repetition.
10.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount paid in pay-related benefit in each of the last four quarters; and the average number of recipients in each quarter.
The amounts paid in pay-related benefit in each of the last four quarters were approximately as follows:
Quarter ended 30th December, 1974 —£1,125,000; Quarter ended 31st March, 1975—£1,645,000; Quarter ended 30th June, 1975—£2,110,000; Quarter ended 30th September, 1975 —£2,665,000.
The average numbers of recipients in each of those quarters were as follows:
Quarter ended 30th December, 1974 —13,780; Quarter ended 31st March, 1975—20,440; Quarter ended 30th June, 1975—23,780; Quarter ended 30th September, 1975—30,620.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary give an indication of the state of the fund at the moment?
The fund is in a comparatively healthy state at the moment. I have not got the precise figures here, but I can assure the Deputy that it is not in danger of getting into financial difficulties.
I think the last time the Parliamentary Secretary gave us a figure there was a balance of £5 million or £6 million in the fund. Would it still be in that region or has it been depleted?
I would not like to give the Deputy a figure off the top of my head but I know the fund is in a healthy state at the moment.
The Parliamentary Secretary gave us an outgoing figure for the last quarter somewhere in the region of £2 million. Does that exceed income into the fund? In other words, is the fund increasing or decreasing in the last quarter to 30th September, 1975?
I do not want to give figures off the top of my head. I would be glad to give the figures to the Deputy on a future occasion.
I thought he would be watching it every week to see——
I do not have to watch it every week. I keep a watchful eye on it and I am satisfied it is in a healthy financial state.
The Parliamentary Secretary does not know whether there is more coming into it or going out of it at the moment?
I know it is in a very healthy state.
But is there more coming in or going out of it at the moment?
I would not be prepared to answer that without notice of the question.
This is deplorable.
There is nothing deplorable about my refusing to answer off the top of my head questions which are thought up on the spur of the moment by the Opposition. If the Deputy wishes to know the precise figures all he has to do is submit a question.
Surely the Parliamentary Secretary should realise that all these funds should be watched closely by him.
We are deviating from the question on the Order Paper.
I have assured the Deputy and the House that they are watched closely by me.
Yet the Parliamentary Secretary cannot answer the question.
I am satisfied the fund is in an adequate financial state.
The Parliamentary Secretary cannot say——
This is leading to argument. I am calling Deputy Leonard for a final supplementary.
I am not prepared to answer off the top of my head precisely how the fund stands at this moment.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary's Department at this stage any projected forecast for the possible expenditure of the fund for the quarter ended the 31st December?
The Deputy is getting away from Question No. 10.
It is related to the same question.
It is a separate question.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary's Department any projected forecast of the expenditure for the remaining quarter of the year?
All aspects relating to the viability of the fund are taken into consideration.
I take it the Parliamentary Secretary means that the answer is no?
The Deputy has got the precise answer. I do not see why the Deputy wants to take anything from it.
A quick supplementary from Deputy Leonard.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary tell us the number of outstanding claims? He has told us the amount of money and the number of recipients but there is a large number of people who have upwards of 20 weeks' pay-related benefit yet to receive. They applied four months ago and still have received no payments because of the delay in having their payments processed. Could the Parliamentary Secretary give us the up-to-date position of the pay-related benefit applications and payments?
I have given precisely what was requested in the question. With regard to people having outstanding claims, I am not aware of such. I am not aware that the Deputy has communicated with my Department regarding any of the alleged five months waiting. If he has any cases I would be only too glad to look into them immediately. I am not aware that any exist.
Question No. 11.
I have written to the Parliamentary Secretary about one which has been waiting 20 weeks.
It is possible there may be one due to something which I cannot explain now. The Deputy has said there are many.
From time to time there are many.
The Deputy should be factual.
11.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is prepared to establish a section in his Department to facilitate residents of this country who are in receipt of social welfare payments from Great Britain and who are experiencing delay in the renewal of their books.
I am not aware of any general delays in the renewal of books in the case of residents of this country who are in receipt of social welfare payments from Great Britain. If a complaint of delay is received, the appropriate section of my Department asks the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, to investigate the matter.
If the Deputy will furnish me with details of any case in which delay has occurred I will arrange to have immediate action taken in the manner I have indicated.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that when we make representations on behalf of people who were in receipt of benefit and who were not reissued with books we are told by the Department that those person's benefits are in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and that representations have to be made there. In many cases when public representatives write to Newcastle-upon-Tyne they do not even get an acknowledgment.
The Deputy should avoid making statements. A brief question, please.
The Parliamentary Secretary should investigate those cases especially in relation to retirement pensions and invalid pensions. The Department have not got a section specifically for that purpose but they should have one.
I can assure the Deputy I would be concerned with any undue delay in regard to the payment of any benefit due to a person. We are in contact with the British authorities in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to ensure that any matter which has to be referred to them is concluded as quickly as possible.
If a person's book for a retirement pension is not reissued he is not notified if the benefit has been terminated. This is the problem.
I understand from the Department that the number of complaints of this nature received in the Department is extremely small. They are very isolated cases. When they are brought to our notice we will communicate with the British authorities.