asked the Minister for Social Welfare in respect of the last year for which figures are available, the total amounts paid out in respect of each (a) benefit and (b) assistance scheme.
Written Answers . - Social Welfare Benefits .
151.
: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to expenditure by my Department on each benefit and assistance scheme in 1977, the latest year for which figures are available, is set out in the following tabular statements:—
a) Expenditure on Benefit Schemes in 1977
|
£000s |
|
|
(1) Social Insurance Fund: |
|
|
Disability Benefit |
61,534 |
|
Maternity Allowance |
2,493 |
|
Maternity Grant |
118 |
|
Death Grant |
200 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
3,725 |
|
Unemployment Benefit |
44,598 |
|
Old Age (Contributory) Pension |
52,042 |
|
Widow's (Contributory) Pension |
46,291 |
|
Orphan's (Contributory) Allowance |
379 |
|
Retirement Pension |
25,514 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
9,731 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
1,931 |
|
Pay-Related Benefit |
16,270 |
|
(2) Occupational Injuries Benefit |
7,038 |
|
(3) Supplementary Unemployment Benefit (“Wet-Time” Scheme) |
943 |
The figures shown at (1), (2) and (3) above are not final figures.
(b) Expenditure on Assistance Schemes in 1977
|
£000s |
||
|
Old Age Pensions (Non-Contributory) |
80,861 |
|
|
Children's Allowances |
48,712 |
|
|
Unemployment Assistance |
57,189 |
|
|
Widow's and Orphan's (Non-Contributory) Pension |
8,266 |
|
|
Miscellaneous Grants: |
£000s |
|
|
(1) School Meals—Urban |
347 |
|
|
(2) School Meals—Gaeltacht |
4 |
|
|
(3) Fuel Grants |
1,196 |
|
|
(4) Footwear Grants |
2 |
|
|
(5) Free Travel |
5,856 |
|
|
(6) Free Electricity Allowances |
4,360 |
|
|
(7) Free TV Licences |
1,371 |
|
|
(8) Supplementary Welfare Allowances |
842 |
|
|
13,978 |
||
|
Social Assistance Allowances: |
||
|
(1) Deserted Wives' Allowances |
2,646 |
|
|
(2) Unmarried Mothers' Allowances |
3,020 |
|
|
(3) Single Women's Allowances |
1,413 |
|
|
(4) Prisoners' Wives' Allowances |
168 |
|
|
7,247 |
These figures do not include expenditure on (1) the scheme for the provision of free bottled gas for certain persons unable to avail of the free electricity allowances scheme or (2) in respect of the free telephone rental scheme both of which came into operation only in April 1978.
152.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated cost of abolition of the means limit in respect of (a) non-contributory old-age and (b) non-contributory widows pensions.
: It is assumed that the question refers to the estimated cost of abolishing the means test for the pensions mentioned. The estimated annual cost of the abolition of the means test is as follows: (a) non-contributory old age pension, £53 million; (b) non-contributory widow's pension, £22 million.
153.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unemployment benefit has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly, who has been signing for eight weeks.
: The inquiries which were being made in this case have now been completed and a deciding officer has allowed the person's claim for unemployment benefit. Payment of all benefit due has been made to her.