asked the Minister for Social Welfare when unemployment benefit/assistance will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefit.
77.
The claim of the person concerned to unemployment benefit has been authorised at the appropriate maximum weekly rate in his case of £31.65. All arrears due were paid to him on 20 May 1983. Further weekly payments will continue to be made as they become due.
99.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider making social welfare benefits payable to widowers at the same rate as that payable to widows.
Apart from pensions, widowers would have the same range of social welfare entitlements as widows. I assume, therefore, the Deputy intends his question to refer to pensions.
The payment of pensions to widowers on the same conditions as to widows would have very serious cost implications. At a time of serious financial constraint I have no proposals for the introduction of such a scheme.