asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated annual cost of non-contributory pensions in (i) 1976 and (ii) 1977; and the estimated breakdown of expenditure for (a) persons self-employed in agriculture (b) other self-employed persons and (c) other persons.
Written Answers. - Non-Contributory Pensions.
64.
The estimated cost of non-contributory pensions and allowances payable under the Social Welfare Acts is £87,390,000 in 1976 and £102,000,000 in 1977. The figures quoted cover expenditure on non-contributory schemes of old age pensions, widows' and orphans' pensions, deserted wives' allowances, unmarried mothers' allowances, prisoners wives' allowances and single women's allowances. The figure for 1977 includes the estimated cost of the increases in the rates of pensions and allowances as from April, 1977 and October, 1977 and also the cost of the reduction of pension age to 66 years from the latter date.
The information sought by the Deputy as to the breakdown of the cost between self-employed persons and other persons is not available.