Vol. 436 No. 2
35 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the recent submission from the Combat Poverty Agency to the Nutrition Advisory Group which reported that families living on social welfare could only afford a basic diet based on cheap, filler foods and recommended that social welfare allowances should be synchronised with actual nutritional needs; his response to the submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware that the Combat Poverty Agency made a submission to the Nutrition Advisory Group established by the Minister for Health to advise on the formulation of a nutritional policy for Ireland. I understand that the submission is one of 28 received to date which are being examined by the group in the course of their work.
There is, in my view, a wide range of factors affecting the spending patterns of families at different income levels. All families whether on social welfare payments or otherwise, who are living on limited incomes, are faced with having to manage their living pattern within these income levels. I have taken specific measures in recent years to enable assistance and advice to be provided to people on low incomes to help them to get the maximum value from their incomes.
In so far as the rates of social welfare payments generally are concerned, I have already put on the record of this House my commitment and this Government's commitment to achieving the priority rates of payment recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare. In the area of child income support, the number of child dependant rates has been streamlined from 36 in 1987 to three at present. The minimum child dependant allowance is now £12.80, as compared with £6 in 1987. This year's budget provided for a substantial increase in child benefit payments to £20 for the first three children and £23 for the fourth and each subsequent child. Under the Programme for a Partnership Government, we are committed to increasing child benefit still further over time, following integration of the tax and social welfare systems.
In recent years, social welfare payments have more than kept pace with inflation. All long term social welfare rates now exceed the commission's priority rate. The new maximum standard weekly rates for long term payments now range from £59.20 to £68.90. The carer's allowance has also been increased to the long term rate. Short-term payments are now at a new personal weekly rate of £55.60.
