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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Nov 1989

Vol. 393 No. 1

Written Answers. - Steps to Alleviate Poverty.

152.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the steps, if any, he proposes to take to alleviate poverty in the community in the coming year.

Under the Programme for National Recovery the Government are committed to maintaining the overall value of social welfare benefits and within the resources available, to consider special provision for greater increases for those receiving the lowest payments.

In the last two years significant resources have been allocated to improve the position of persons at the lower end of the income distribution. The full year costs of the social welfare improvements in the 1988 and 1989 budgets were £101 million and £157 million respectively. In recent years social welfare payments generally have kept pace with inflation and payments to the long-term unemployed have increased by almost 17 per cent in real terms. In addition, payments for children of social welfare recipients have been increased significantly, giving rise to substantial improvements for larger families. The higher rate of child benefit formerly paid in respect of the sixth and subsequent children is now paid in respect of the fifth child as well, and this is a benefit to all larger families.

Recognising the position of men who are rearing children alone, the Government introduced a new assistance scheme for widowers and deserted husbands with children last month along the lines of the existing scheme for widows and deserted wives.

Improvements in the family income supplement scheme together with the special tax exemption scheme for low paid workers with children means that the problems of families on low incomes at work are also being addressed.

An increased Christmas bonus will be paid to pensioners and the long-term unemployed this year. As a result an old age pension couple will receive a bonus of £70. A couple with 5 children on long-term unemployment assistance will get a bonus of £88.90 bringing their payment that week to £215.90.

The above examples of the action taken by the Government indicate that it is aware of the changing needs and problems of society and is responding to alleviate these. The Government intends in future budgets to build on the progress it has made to date.

Proposals for improvements in social welfare payments in 1990 are being prepared at present in connection with forthcoming discussions on the 1990 budget. In this context the Government's commitment to improving the position of persons on social welfare payments as far as the available resources permit will be fully maintained.

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