asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on whether a great number of anomalies arise in the Dublin county area arising from the variation of payments between urban and rural rates especially as between corporation and county council houses there; if in view of these anomalies he will now declare the entire county of Dublin as an urban area for the purposes of social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payment Rates.
53.
The rate of unemployment assistance payable to claimants residing in urban areas is higher than that which is payable to those residing in other areas. Urban areas for unemployment assistance purposes are defined as every county borough, the borough of Dún Laoghaire and every urban district the population of which exceeds 7,000. The urban rate is also payable to a claimant who resides outside an urban area in a house owned by the corporation or council of an urban area.
The provision of different rates for urban and other areas was based on the concept of differing living costs as between the two locations. With the development and growth of urban areas over the years this concept has undoubtedly been weakened.
However, the replacement of the non-urban rates of unemployment assistance by the higher urban rates is a matter that would affect claimants throughout the whole country as well as Dublin county. This would have significant financial implications and for this reason a change is not contemplated in present circumstances.