asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any views on the provision of productive employment as a substitute for social welfare payments.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Productive Employment .
25.
: The role of my Department in relation to unemployed persons is determined by social welfare legislation and is specifically to provide income maintenance services during periods of unemployment. The legislation does not give my Department any function in relation to the provision of employment which is another and much more complex matter.
I should like to stress, however, that the Government are fully committed to the task of job creation and to the reduction of unemployment. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, there has been a considerable reduction in this number in recent months.
: Due to the lack of activity in other Departments would the Minister not ensure that recipients of unemployment benefit could be employed rather than drawing the money for nothing? Is the Minister not aware that in some cases the amount paid in unemployment benefit is almost as high as the average local wage? Surely there is something wrong that, in a country where so much medical work of all kinds and so much productive work is to be done in every area, there are men registered as unemployed and drawing allowances almost on a par with the income of wage earners? The Minister should take note of that position and get some production for the money we expend?
: Please refrain from making speeches.
: There are two points I would like to make. As the Deputy knows, there is now a statutory provision whereby unemployment benefit is restricted to 85 per cent of what the unemployed person earned before becoming unemployed. That is one limitation. Secondly, I do not think the level of unemployment benefit here is such that it would by itself attract somebody from getting employment who could otherwise get it. I have already given, in response to an earlier question, a full reply which indicated that, in one instance at least which has come to notice, stories to the effect that there are a lot of people lying around drawing unemployment benefit who could get jobs are just not true.
: Surely it is part of the Government's responsibility to ensure that those in receipt of unemployment benefit get productive employment in their own areas?
: I have explained, in reply to an earlier question, that there are procedures which ensure that, if there is some person drawing unemployment benefit who is offered employment and does not take it, his benefit is stopped. That procedure has been there all along.
: Am I to assume from the Minister's reply that there is no co-ordination of effort on the part of the Cabinet? We were told when the Minister for Economic Planning and Development was appointed that there would be complete co-ordination of effort and that Ministers——
: The debate on the adjournment is after Question Time. Question No. 26. We have had enough supplementaries on this question.
: Am I to assume that the Minister for Social Welfare does not look beyond social welfare and health and does not notice the existence of the other Departments?
: He watches the Taoiseach's seat very carefully.
: In the reply which I gave I said:
I should like to stress, however, that the Government are fully committed to the task of job creation and to the reduction of unemployment.