asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in respect of farmers' dole the number of beneficiaries, the number of adult dependants and the number of child dependants for 1976 or for a date towards the end of 1976.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
83.
The average weekly number of smallholders in receipt of unemployment assistance in 1976 was 28,643; the number of their adult dependants was 20,967 and their child dependants 53,476.
84.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state for each category of weekly social welfare payment (a) the number of beneficiaries (b) the number of adult dependants and (c) the number of child dependants in respect of 1976 or for a date towards the end of 1976.
The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:
|
Number of Recipients |
Number of Adult Dependants |
Number of Child Dependants |
|
|
Social Insurance: |
|||
|
Disability Benefit |
67,115 |
23,498 |
52,217 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
10,225 |
5,251 |
7,981 |
|
Maternity Allowance |
2,733 |
— |
— |
|
Old Age (Contributory) Pension |
55,226 |
14,654 |
2,497 |
|
Retirement Pension |
25,797 |
12,151 |
3,789 |
|
Unemployment Benefit |
51,227 |
24,931 |
54,780 |
|
Widow's (Contributory) Pension |
62,958 |
— |
21,400 |
|
Orphan's (Contributory) Allowance |
767 |
— |
— |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
1,675 |
— |
3,227 |
|
Pay Related Benefit |
37,324 |
— |
— |
|
Occupational Injuries: |
|||
|
Injury Benefit |
1,728 |
695 |
1,608 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
4,797 |
73 |
154 |
|
Death Benefits |
266 |
— |
504 |
|
Social Assistance: |
|||
|
Old Age (Non-contributory,) Pension |
131,000 |
10,000 |
5,000 |
|
Unemployment Assistance (including smallholders) |
72,631 |
41,668 |
126,676 |
|
Widow's (Non-contributory) Pension |
12,553 |
— |
6,950 |
|
Orphan's (Non-contributory) Pension |
221 |
— |
— |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
3,110 |
— |
4,085 |
|
Unmarried Mother's Allowance |
3,334 |
— |
4,356 |
|
Prisoners, Wife's Allowance |
111 |
— |
365 |
|
Single Woman's Allowance |
3,579 |
— |
— |
The figures relate to 31 December, 1976 except in the case of disability benefit where they relate to 6 December, 1976 and pay related benefit where they represent the weekly average for quarter ended 31 December, 1976.
85.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in respect of 1976 the average number of persons in receipt of pay-related (a) unemployment benefit and (b) disability benefit; and the average amount of such payment in each case.
The particulars requested are as follows:—
|
Average weekly number of recipients |
Average weekly payment |
|
|
Pay-related benefit payable with unemployment benefit |
22,339 |
£6.64 |
|
Pay-related benefit payable with disability benefit, maternity allowance and occupational injury benefit* |
15,840 |
£7.85 |
*Separate figures are not available in respect of each of these benefits.
86.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in respect of 1976 (a) the average number of persons in receipt of disability benefit (b) the number who had no dependants and (c) the average number of dependants per recipient with dependants.
The particulars requested by the Deputy are as follows: (a) 67,843; (b) 44,840; (c) 3.2.
87.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in respect of 1976 (a) the average number of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit (b) the number who had no dependants and (c) the average number of dependants per recipient with dependants.
The information requested is as follows: (a) the average weekly number of unemployment benefit recipients in 1976 was 53,835; (b) of these, 27,634 had no dependants; (c) the average number of dependants per recipient with dependants was 3 (to the nearest whole number).
88.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the charge made by the Post Office in respect of services other than postal charges, provided by it in relation to the social welfare services in the years 1975 and 1976; and the estimated charge for 1977.
The cost of services, other than postal services, provided by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs for my Department in respect of the years 1975, 1976 and 1977 is as follows: 1975, £3,131,000; 1976, £3,640,000 (Provisional); 1977, £3,709,000 (Estimated).
The total amount payable for such services for any year cannot be calculated until the accounts for that year become available from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. Accordingly, the amount shown in the published Estimates each year may include arrears due in respect of previous years.
89.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total contributions to pay-related benefits made by (a) employers and (b) employees in 1976; and the estimate of such contributions for 1977.
Provisional returns in respect of the pay-related benefit scheme for 1976 indicate that the amount of contributions paid by employers was £15,592,000 and the amount paid by employees was £7,796,000. It is estimated that the corresponding figures for 1977 will be £16,333,000 and £8,167,000 respectively.
90.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary has not been paid unemployment benefit.
The person concerned has not been paid unemployment benefit, which he claimed on 1st March, 1977, because he has been disqualified for the receipt of benefit for a period of six weeks from 23rd February, 1977, on the ground that he lost his employment through circumstances within his own control. He has been notified of this decision and of his right to appeal against it if he is dissatisfied.
91.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the unemployment appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will be heard.
Arrangements have been made to have an oral hearing held on Thursday 31st March, 1977, of the appeal of the person concerned against the decision on her claim for unemployment benefit. She has been notified of the time, date and place of the hearing.
92.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have disability benefit paid to a person in County Cork (details supplied).
Two medical certificates covering the period 24th February, 1977 to 3rd March, 1977, submitted by the person concerned when claiming disability benefit were not signed by the claimant nor did they bear his social insurance number. Two further certificates correctly completed were submitted by the claimant on 21st March, 1977, and payment of all disability benefit due to him was made on 24th March, 1977.
93.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange to have payment of unemployment assistance continued for a person (name supplied) in County Cork.
The person concerned is a landholder residing in a prescribed area with a land valuation exceeding £20 and as such his means for unemployment assistance purposes will cease under the Social Welfare Act, 1977, to be assessed on a notional basis as from the 30th March, 1977. He will, however, continue to be entitled to have his means assessed on a factual basis and so that this may be done his papers have been referred to the local social welfare officer for a report. A deciding officer will reassess his weekly rate of means and his assistance entitlement on the basis of this report. He will be notified of the revised means assessment in his case and of his right to appeal against it if he is dissatisfied.
94.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether the correct amount of unemployment assistance is being paid to a person in County Galway (name supplied).
The correct maximum rate of unemployment assistance to which a person resident in a rural area who has a wife and four child dependants is entitled is being paid to the person concerned.
95.
Mr. Kitt
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of people in receipt of American pensions in this country; and if he will extend the free electricity scheme to them where the relevant conditions apply.
I have no information as to the number of people in the State who are in receipt of American pensions. I do not, in any event, contemplate extending the free electricity allowance scheme beyond the substantial extension of that scheme provided for in this year's budget.
96.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why an applicant in Dublin for sickness benefit (name and address supplied), who was in hospital from approximately mid-January this year to the beginning of March, has as yet received no payment from his Department.
The person referred to by the Deputy claimed disability benefit from 28th January, 1977. A decision could not be given on his claim until inquiries were completed regarding his 1975 contribution card which had been stolen from the premises of his employer. The contribution record of the claimant in that year has now been established and payment of the amount of benefit due on his claim has been made.
97.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons in County Mayo in receipt of British contributory pensions.
The information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department.