asked the Minister for Social Welfare (a) the current cost of paying disability benefit; and (b) the estimated cost of paying disability benefit, if it was decided that it should only be paid on a short term basis.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Costs.
80.
(a) The estimated cost of disability benefit and associated pay-related benefit in 1986 is £249.2 million.
(b) If payment of disability benefit were restricted to a short term ten week period the cost at present rates of payment, including pay-related benefit, would be of the order of £55 million.
81.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost of bringing the rural unemployment assistance rates into line with the urban unemployment assistance rates.
It is estimated that the cost of bringing the rural unemployment assistance rates into line with the urban unemployment assistance rates would be of the order of £6 million in 1986 terms.