asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the report from the Central Statistics Office showing that over 8 per cent of urban families are living on a weekly income of less than £25 per week and if he will make a statement on the action he is taking to combat poverty in Ireland.
Written Answers. - Action to Combat Poverty.
439.
My attention has been drawn to the report in question. The minimum social welfare payment at present for a family comprising a man, wife and one child is slightly over £28 a week. Many persons getting the minimum payment may also be getting some extra payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
As to the latter part of the question I should like to repeat what I said earlier this year on this subject. I said then that the elimination of any poverty which may exist in the community was one of the underlying purposes of all Government activity and that that purpose might be seen to be central to the Government's programme for the creation of full employment. So far as social welfare is concerned I said that the services provided by my Department were also related to that purpose and that it was my concern to ensure their continued development and improvement.