asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any plans to substitute a single parent allowance for deserted wife's allowance and benefit and unmarried mothers' allowance; and if so, if he plans to extend it to unemployed widowers and deserted husbands who have child dependants.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
24.
The whole question of income support for one parent families is being examined by my Department in the light of the recommendations on this matter in the report of the Commission on Social Welfare and in the context of discussions that are taking place at EC level on Commission proposals for a Council Directive completing the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in statutory and occupational social security schemes. The matter is also being examined by the National Pensions Board, with particular reference to pensions for survivors. In the light of the proposals which emerge from these discussions I will be considering what changes need to be made, the appropriate timescale for implementation in the light of the budgetary situation and I will be submitting proposals on the matter to Government.
25.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the date on which his attention was first drawn to the fact that the Christmas bonus would not be paid to all AnCO trainees who would have qualified had they remained unemployed as advertised by his Department; the reason his Department advertised that all AnCO trainees who would have qualified for a bonus, had they remained unemployed, would be paid a bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
26.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) on the plight of 4,000 to 5,000 long term unemployed who did not receive the announced Christmas bonus; the reason they did not receive the bonus; the steps which were taken in cases of individual hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 26 together.
As part of my commitment to helping those who have to rely on social welfare payments I arranged to pay a Christmas bonus last year to all long term social welfare recipients, including those on long term unemployment payments. This decision, taken in spite of the difficult financial situation, was in recognition of the extra financial commitments which arise at Christmas. Statutory Instrument No. 293 of 1987 provided for the bonus to be paid to persons in receipt of unemployment assistance at the long term rate on any day in the unemployment week ended Tuesday, 1 December 1987. The bonus payable amounted to 65 per cent of the weekly payment. The regulations applied to social welfare payments only and did not provide for payment of a bonus to persons engaged on training courses with FÁS, this being a matter for the Minister for Labour.
Subsequently an administrative decision was taken by the Department of Labour, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, to pay certain trainees of FÁS a bonus similar to the one paid by my Department. The announcement regarding payment of a Christmas bonus for trainees was made in a press release issued by the Minister for Labour on 25 November 1987. My Department in their advertisement in the national newspapers on 29 November 1987 based their information on the contents of the press release from the Minister for Labour.
The statement in this advertisement was that the bonus would be paid to all AnCO and CERT trainees who would otherwise have qualified for a bonus payment had they remained unemployed. This gave rise to certain queries, and in an effort to clear up any possible misunderstanding the Minister for Labour issued a further statement on 11 December 1987 clarifying the position in that only trainees who had commenced their courses since 17 August 1987, and who had immediately before the course been in receipt of the long term rate of unemployment assistance, would qualify for the bonus. The minimum allowance payable to these trainees was linked to the unemployment assistance rate rather than the unemployment benefit rate as in the case of those who commenced their training prior to 17 August 1987. It was not considered necessary or appropriate to insert a further advertisement by my Department following the latter statement by the Minister for Labour, because the payment of a bonus to AnCO trainees was not the responsibility of my Department.
In accordance with legislation, the higher, long term rate of unemployment assistance can only be paid to those persons who have been in receipt of unemployment assistance or unemployment benefit for a total of 390 days in any continuous period of unemployment. The newspaper article referred to by the Deputy incorrectly stated that some long term unemployment assistance recipients failed to qualify for the bonus because their claims had been broken when they participated in a course with FÁS.
This in fact is incorrect. Under current legislation a person in receipt of long term unemployment assistance who participates in a FÁS training course for a period of up to one year, requalifies at the long term rate on re-applying for unemployment assistance within 20 weeks of the end of the course. Such applicants, if on the long term rate between 25 November and 1 December 1987, would have received payment of the 65 per cent bonus.
27.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will change the regulations which would entitle widows to an old-age contributory pension, in the case where a widow who is working pays full PRSI and opts for the old age pension as opposed to continued payment of the widows pension.
A working widow in receipt of widow's contributory pension is not liable for the employee's PRSI contribution. She is, however, covered by the social insurance system and her employer is liable for his share of the contribution. If she is insured at the standard rate contributions paid in respect of her are reckonable for old age contributory pension purposes and, subject to satisfying the contribution conditions, she could opt for old age pension at age 66.