asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons currently in receipt of deserted wives allowance; and the total number of applications received since the inception of the scheme.
Written Answers. - Deserted Wives' Allowance.
33.
All applications from deserted wives are examined for title to deserted wife's benefit as well as to deserted wife's allowance, and the more favourable of the two payments is awarded. At 12th March, 1976 a total of 7,091 applications had been received from deserted wives since the inception of the schemes and there are 1,454 currently in receipt of deserted wife's benefit and 2,942 in receipt of deserted wife's allowance.