Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 May 1993

Vol. 430 No. 6

Written Answers. - Adult Dependency Concept.

Helen Keogh

Question:

46 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he intends to alter the term dependent to qualified partner and to eliminate the concept of adult dependency generally; and the progress if any, that has been made to move towards a system of individual rights and payments in the social insurance and social welfare system.

John Bruton

Question:

66 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will introduce a system of individual payments to all adults in a receipt of social welfare, as recommended in the Second Commission on the Status of Women report.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 66 together.

The Commission on the Status of Women was of the view that adult dependants of social welfare recipients, the vast bulk of whom are married women, should be given recognition in their own right and that the term "adult dependent" in present legislation should be replaced. I am considering at present how this recommendation could be given effect and the implications of doing so.

The concept of dependency exists within the social welfare system for historical reasons. Old age pensions were first introduced as far back as 1911, and the unemployment assistance scheme dates from 1933. At that time, the family structure of a breadwinner husband with dependent wife and children was the norm, and the social welfare schemes were framed accordingly.

Establishing a system of solely individual rights and payments would clearly represent a significant departure from the existing social welfare system. It could, for example, result in people with low personal incomes but benefiting from a high family income overall becoming entiled to means-tested payments. This would have significant cost implications for the taxpayer. In terms of insurance payments, a system of individual rights could effectively result in lower payments for some people who do not have complete insurance records in their own right but who currently qualify for full adult dependant allowances. Separate payments to all qualified partners would have considerable costs. At present separate payments are arranged on request for people with difficult family situations.

My Department is examining all the implications of the commission's recommendation in relation to the status of married women working in the home with a view to formulating an action plan to address the issues raised for these women in the context of the future development of the social welfare system.