asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total amount of non-contributory pension and social assistance payments; and the number of such payments paid out of general taxation.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
948.
Expenditure by my Department on social assistance schemes in 1981, together with the number of recipients, is given in the following statement. All the expenditure by my Department on social assistance schemes comes from voted moneys with the exception, in 1981, of receipts from certain local authorities towards the cost of unemployment assistance and recoupment from EEC of part-cost of milk supplied to school-children.
|
Social Assistance |
1981 Expenditure £000's |
No. of Recipients at 31.12.81 |
|
Subhead G: |
||
|
Old Age Pensions (Non-Contributory) |
168,183 |
123,411 |
|
Blind Pensions |
8,177 |
6,000 |
|
Subhead H: |
||
|
Children's Allowances |
99,105 |
455,299 |
|
Subhead I: |
||
|
Unemployment Assistance, including payments to smallholders |
108,846 |
78,469 |
|
Subhead J: |
||
|
Widow's Non-Contributory Pensions |
18,067 |
12,240 |
|
Orphan's Non-Contributory Pensions |
131 |
153 |
|
Subhead K: |
||
|
1. Grants to certain local authorities, not exceeding half the sum paid out of rates, for the provision of school meals. |
519 |
80,530* |
|
2. Grants to certain local authorities for the provision of school means in Gaeltacht areas |
10 |
10,325* |
|
3. Grants to Local Authorities towards the supply of fuel for necessitous families |
5,355 |
53,000* |
|
4. Grants to Public Assistance Authorities not exceeding 50 per cent of their expenditure on provision of footwear (Scheme has been incorporated in K 11) |
3 |
— |
|
5. Grants in respect of Free Travel |
12,043 |
376,000* |
|
6. Grants in respect of the provision of free electricity allowances |
11,760 |
153,344 |
|
7. Grants in respect of the provision of free television licences |
3,021 |
100,345 |
|
8. Grants in respect of the cost of the free telephone rental scheme |
1,137 |
16,500 |
|
9. Grants in respect of the provision of free bottled gas |
63 |
1,067 |
|
10. Grants in respect of Poverty Research projects |
12 |
— |
|
11. Grants to Health Boards towards the cost of supplementary welfare allowances |
10,407 |
17,413 |
|
12. Grants in respect of special increase in 1979 in butter voucher subsidy |
2 |
— |
|
13. Outstanding debts expenses arising from the activities of the former National Committee on Pilot Schemes to combat poverty |
162 |
— |
|
14. Grants in respect of measures undertaken in accordance with the anti-poverty plan |
100 |
— |
|
Subhead L: |
||
|
1. Deserted Wives' Allowances |
5,564 |
3,063 |
|
2. Social Assistance Allowances for Unmarried Mothers |
10,930 |
6,222 |
|
3. Single Women's Allowances |
3,152 |
2,953 |
|
4. Prisoners' Wives' Allowances |
482 |
148 |
* Estimated.
The receipts referred to at the beginning of the reply amount to £528,082 from Local Authorities and £58,391 from the EEC.
949.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when an old age pension will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person concerned has been awarded a widow's non-contributory pension at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow with no qualified children with effect from 5 September 1980, the date of the deed transferring her interest in the family farm to her son.
A pension book containing orders from 2 April 1982 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. The arrears of pension due from 5 September to 1 April 1982 were paid direct by means of a payable order sent to the widow.
The rate of widow's pension awarded is higher than the rate of non-contributory old age pension to which she would otherwise be entitled. Accordingly, no further action will be taken in connection with her claim to non-contributory old age pension. These pensions are not payable concurrently.
950.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the immediate payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in Galway who has not received any payments from his Department since he entered hospital at the beginning of March 1982.
The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 9 March 1982. As, according to the records of my Department, he had not the required minimum of 26 contributions paid or credited in the contribution year 1980-81 which governed the claim he was not entitled to payment.
Subsequent inquiries revealed that he had additional contributions which served to entitle him to benefit. Payment of all disability benefit due to 24 May 1982 has now been issued.
The claimant is not entitled to pay-related benefit.
951.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will investigate why a prescribed relative allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Clare has not been paid since she first applied and forwarded all the necessary documents in January 1982; and if he will arrange to have the payments backdated to the date of her application.
The person concerned has been awarded a prescribed relative's allowance with effect from 11 December 1981, the Friday following her 66th birthday.
An allowance book with orders from 2 April 1982 has been issued to the designated post office for collection by her and she was notified accordingly. The arrears of pension due from 11 December 1981 to 1 April 1982 were paid direct to the widow by means of a payable order.
952.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will receive unemployment assistance.
The person concerned is not entitled to unemployment assistance because the means assessed against him derived from the value of board and lodgings on his parent's holding exceed the maximum rate of unemployment assistance payable in his case.
If he is dissatisfied with the assessment it is open to him to appeal and to have his case determined by an appeals officer. A form for this purpose is obtainable at his local office.
953.
(Donegal South-West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the free electricity allowance will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The free electricity allowance of the person concerned was terminated in error from 1 March 1982. Arrangements have been made with the ESB to have the allowance re-applied from that date and the pensioner's electricity account will be adjusted accordingly.
954.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether a person (details supplied) in County Galway is entitled to draw Irish and English widows pensions simultaneously; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of a widow's contributory pension from my Department, at the maximum rate appropriate to a widow with no qualified children, based on her own Irish insurance record.
As the husband had been employed in the United Kingdom, the relevant papers were forwarded to the Department of Health and Social Security, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, so that her title to British widow's pension on his insurance could be considered. The award of such pension would not affect the pension now in payment to the widow by my Department.
955.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the payment of unemployment benefit and a dependant relative allowance to a person (details supplied) in Galway in respect of his grandson who resides with him.
The person concerned claimed an increase in flat-rate unemployment benefit in respect of his grandson but his application was refused because he stated in reply to inquiries that this child was being supported by the father. However in the light of recent information arrangements are now being made to have the case reviewed and further investigations will be made in the matter.
Payment of an increase for a child dependant will not however effect the present gross weekly payment of £82.63 as this sum represents the statutory 85 per cent limit of combined flat-rate unemployment benefit and pay-related benefit payable in his case.
956.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the concern expressed by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3, about the non-payment to him of a double week's benefit last Christmas; and if, in view of previous written representations by Deputy Keating to him in this matter, he will expedite an investigation of this man's query with a view to obtaining satisfaction for him.
It has not been possible from the information supplied by the Deputy to identify the person referred to by him in the question. If the Deputy will be good enough to quote the RSI number or other particulars which will enable the claimant to be identified, the matter will be dealt with urgently.
957.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason unemployment benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person concerned claimed unemployment benefit on 1 March 1982. Inquiries were necessary to establish the claimant's relevant contribution record. This has now been determined and all arrears due to the person concerned were paid on 21 May 1982.
Further weekly payments of £75.00 will continue to be made as they fall due.
958.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason disability benefit is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person concerned was in receipt of disability benefit from 16 May 1981 to 3 May 1982. Payment was disallowed after that date following examination by a medical referee who expressed the opinion that he was capable of work. He was notified of the disallowance of benefit on 26 April 1982 and advised of his right to appeal against the decision but no reply has been received to date.
The Deputy's inquiry has been taken as an appeal in this case and arrangements have now been made to have him again examined on 7 June 1982 by a different medical referee. His entitlement to benefit will be reviewed when the report of the medical referee is received.
959.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free travel pass will be issued to a person (details supplied) in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As the person concerned is not yet 66 years of age and is not in receipt of an allowance or pension which would entitle her to free travel, it is regretted that it is not possible to issue a free travel pass to her at present.
960.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment and pay-related benefits will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit until 30 March 1982, when payment ceased pending confirmation from her of the date of her marriage and of her availability for employment. Due to the misfiling of her reply resumption of payment was inadvertently delayed. However, payment of all arrears due will be made this week and further weekly payments of £53.24 will continue to be made as they fall due.