asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department will commission a survey to establish the number of persons who may not be claiming all or part of social welfare benefits to which they may be entitled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
13.
My Department make considerable efforts to increase public awareness of entitlements by providing a wide range of information on their schemes and services. There are currently 34 public offices and information centres of the Department around the country providing an information service to the public. In addition a comprehensive range of information leaflets and booklets on all aspects of the Department's services are widely distributed and are available at all the Department's offices. New leaflets are added as new services and schemes are introduced and the information needs and requirements of the public are subject to continual review. The methods of disseminating information are also looked at on a regular basis and developed as resources permit.
In addition, officers of my Department participate regularly in seminars, talks and lectures throughout the country to a variety of different groups and many of these officers were recently provided with special training packages for such talks.
I am satisfied that my Department are taking satisfactory measures to ensure that the public generally are aware of their social welfare entitlements.
I am concerned that all necessary measures will be taken to ensure that those entitled to benefit are catered for. In this connection a study which is being carried out under my aegis by the ESRI, in association with the Combat Poverty Agency, will provide useful information on the extent to which people avail of State services. I will further consider what actions are necessary in this regard in the light of the conclusions of the report.
14.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the expected level of increase in social welfare payments in 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Programme for National Recovery which covers the period up to the end of 1990 includes a commitment that the overall value of social welfare benefits will be maintained and that, within the resources available, special provision for greater increases for those receiving the lowest payments will be considered.
As the House will be aware, all social welfare recipients will receive a general increase of 3 per cent from July this year and this will more than protect the value of payments. Those on the lowest payments, namely unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance, will receive special additional increases including an increase of 11 per cent in personal rates and additional increases for child dependants. In addition, the rates of payments in respect of dependent children of social welfare recipients generally are being streamlined and improved. The effect of these charges in the year 1989 will be an additional £101 million in expenditure on social welfare services.
The question of increases in rates of social welfare payments in 1989 will be a matter to be considered in the context of the 1989 budget. I can assure the House that any measures which are required to fulfil the commitment in the Programme for National Recovery and any further measures which can be taken in reforming and developing the social welfare system within the financial constraints which exist will be provided for.
15.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason it is necessary to continue to distinguish between urban and non-urban categories of welfare recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Since the introduction of the unemployment assistance scheme a higher rate of assistance has been payable to claimants residing in certain urban areas or outside an urban area but 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.
The replacement of the non-urban rates of unemployment assistance by the higher urban rates would have significant financial implications and there are no plans for such a change in present circumstances.