Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Jun 1993

Vol. 431 No. 8

Written Answers. - Alleviation Payments.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

95 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of letters received by his Department since June 1991, from solicitors acting on behalf of women claiming payment of alleviation payments which had been introduced in the 1980s and paid to men only; the number of women on behalf of whom claims were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

96 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in regard to a case (details supplied) taken by two women, the settlement of which was announced in the Supreme Court on 6 June 1991, he will give details of the amount paid from public funds to the two women in question.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods):

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 95 and 96 together.

Statistics are not maintained of the number of communications from solicitors in relation to matters arising from the delay, from December 1984 to November 1986, in implementing the EEC Directive 79/7 on equal treatment between men and women in matters of social security.

The provisions which gave effect to the Directive entitled married women to the higher personal rate of benefits paid to claimants generally and to an additional three months unemployment benefit. The implementing provisions also entitled married women to increases for adult and child dependants on the same basis as married men and to Unemployment assistance.

The delay in implementing the Directive is currently the subject of court proceedings and it would be inappropriate to make any statement in the matter.