Dermot Ahern
Question:279 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline the amount spent on unemployment benefit and assistance in 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Expenditure.
Expenditure on unemployment benefit and assistance amounted to £830.2 million in 1991. This consisted of £227.95 million on unemployment benefit and £605.25 million on unemployment assistance. Unemployment payments now account for 27 per cent of total expenditure on social welfare.
Total expenditure on unemployment payments is determined by the numbers claiming and the rates of payment which they receive. During 1991, the numbers on the live register averaged 254,000 an increase of 29,300 over 1990. At the same time, the payment rates were increased by up to 11 per cent, which is well in excess of the rate of inflation. For example, in July 1991, a couple with four children dependent on short term unemployment assistance received an increase of 9.2 per cent in the rate applicable to them. The Government are committed to achieving by 1993 the priority rates of payment recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare, and this is contributing to substantial increases in expenditure on unemployment payments.