asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the report by the Director of the NSSC that over 100,000 children of the unemployed are living on inadequate incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
14.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Inadequate Incomes.
13.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the report by the Director of the NSSC that the average duration of unemployment is increasing steadily causing a major drift of the unemployed on to the lower rates of payment, reducing the average income of the unemployed; and the plans his Department has to redress the situation.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 13 and 14 together. I presume the Deputy is referring to a paper delivered to a meeting of the Dublin Trades Council by the Director of the National Social Service Council. In reviewing the situation of the unemployed the paper comes to the obvious conclusion that the best solution is to provide employment and at the same time to increase the level of unemployment payments.
As the Deputy is aware, the rates of social welfare payments, including unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance payments, were increased by 10 per cent from the beginning of April, which represents a substantial improvement in real terms. The Government has also made clear its commitment to the generation of additional employment and the reduction of unemployment as a priority objective.
If the Minister accepts as correct the figure of over 100,000 children living on inadequate incomes, is it not a clear indication that there is a need for an entire reform of the social welfare system?
I do not accept that all the figures are correct nor do I accept that the conclusions are correct.
Will the Minister accept that the figure suggesting that 100,000 children are living on inadequate incomes is correct?
I do not accept that. I am sure that we would all prefer our social welfare benefits to be much greater and more generous, but I do not agree with the conclusions made in that paper.
Question No. 15.