asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount paid by (a) employers, and (b) employees to the pay-related benefit scheme fund from 1st January to 31st December, 1975.
7.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pay-Related Benefit.
6.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if there is a surplus of moneys in the pay-related benefit scheme fund; and, if so, the amount of that surplus at the latest available date.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
There is not a separate fund for pay-related benefits. In accordance with the provisions of section 5 of the Social Welfare (Pay-Related Benefit) Act, 1973, income from pay-related contributions is paid into the social insurance fund and pay-related benefits are paid out of that fund.
Final figures of the amount of pay-related contributions paid by employers and employees in the year 1st January, 1975 to 31st December, 1975 are not yet available. Provisional returns indicate that in 1975 employers paid approximately £13.7 million and employees paid approximately £6.8 million in pay-related contributions.
(Dublin Central): Can the Parliamentary Secretary give any indication as to whether, in 1974, there was an excess in the pay-related fund?
Yes. So far as I am aware a question in this regard was answered recently.
Question No. 8.
(Dublin Central): Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that there was an excess of about £10 million in the fund?
I am not aware of the precise figure. As I have said, I understand that the Minister answered a parliamentary question in regard to this matter a short while ago. I am sure the information can be obtained from the record.
I am calling Question No. 8.
(Dublin Central): Is it not true that when this scheme was introduced, there was an undertaking given——
The Deputy is being argumentative.
(Dublin Central):—— that there would be a review of the contribution but that the fund has been in excess for two years?
The Deputy must not be argumentative at Question Time.
(Dublin Central): Should there not be a reduction in the contributions this year from both employers and employees?
I accept that at the time of the introduction of this scheme I gave an undertaking to the House that the scheme would be reviewed. As the Deputy must be aware, it has been reviewed on two occasions and has been extended from its original six months limit of eligibility by two extensions of three months in each case so that now there is a 12-month period of eligibility.
I am calling Question No. 8.
(Dublin Central): Arising further——
The Chair is not allowing any further questions of an argumentative nature.
(Dublin Central): The kind of review I am talking of is a review of the contributions and the undertaking given was that these would be reduced if this was justified but we know now that employers and employees have contributed about £10 million too much.
The Deputy is not in order. Question No. 8.
May I ask a brief supplementary?
Not if it is argumentative.
I am seeking information.
I will allow the question if it arises from the reply given.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary let us know what was the last date at which he announced a review of this scheme and, also, can he say whether it is intended to have any further review of the scheme?
In reply to the first part of the Deputy's supplementary, I have not that information here but from memory I would say that the date was September, 1975. In reply to the second part of the question, no decision has been taken regarding a further extension of the scheme.
May I ask——
I am not allowing any further supplementaries on this question.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if it is possible to extend pay-related benefit without effecting changes in the Social Welfare Act?
That is a separate question.
(Dublin Central): Could I ask one final question?
Everybody is asking final questions.
I am asking, on a point of information, would it be possible to extend pay-related benefit——
That is a separate question.
(Dublin Central): If it is found to be in surplus at 31st December, will the Parliamentary Secretary give an undertaking that it will be reviewed——
That is a separate question.
(Dublin Central):—— because manufacturers and employers find it a substantial charge——
Apart from manufacturers and employers——
Would the Parliamentary Secretary answer Question No. 8? If we pursue this procedure, we shall get away from Question Time.