Vol. 438 No. 2
60 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the discrepancy existing between the benefits available to a female spouse of a PRSI class D payee and those payable to a male spouse of a deceased contributor, particularly in their entitlement to a contributory pension; and the steps, if any, he intends adopting to rationalise the situation.
As the Deputy will be aware from the budget, I will be introducing a new contributory pension for widowers from October next. It will be available to widowers subject to the same contribution conditions as apply to widows in respect of claims arising from October.
Under the new arrangements both widows and widowers will be entitled to a contributory pension for the first year after the death of their spouse after which an earnings requirement will apply for continuation of payment. Provision will be made for the new pension in the forthcoming Social Welfare Bill. It is proposed that the new scheme will apply to Class D contributors.
61 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the death grant was introduced; the increases, if any, to the grant since; if he will review the present £100 death grant with a view to increasing it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Death grant was first introduced as a social insurance benefit in 1970 to provide assistance on the death of an insured person or of a family member. At that time, a maximum grant was £25 payable on the death of an insured person or the husband, wife, widow or widower of an insured person, subject to satisfying the statutory contribution conditions.
The amount of death grant was subsequently increased with effect from October 1972, April 1978, April 1980 and April 1982 when the maximum grant was increased to £100. There has been no change in the amount payable since that date. Any proposal to increase the amount of the death grant would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
62 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total cost for the provision of the supplementary welfare service for the years, 1975, 1980, 1985 and 1990 to 1993 and the most common request for assistance under this service.
The supplementary welfare scheme was introduced in July 1977, to replace the former public assistance scheme which was administered and financed by the local authorities.
Expenditure on the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme met on the Department of Social Welfare Vote for years 1980 and 1985 was £5.7 million and £28.1 million respectively. The 1980 and 1985 figures represent the Exchequer liability towards the cost of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme in those years. The Local Authorities also contributed towards the cost of the scheme.
From the beginning of 1986, the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme was financed in its entirety by the Exchequer.
Total expenditure of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme for years 1990 to 1993 is shown underneath:—
1990 £57.9 million (12.2 million on rent-mortgage supplements)
1991 £74.3 million (19.6 million on rent-mortgage supplements)
1992 £101.1 million (£30.0 million on rent-mortgage supplements)
1993 (provisional) £110.0 million (£36.5 million on rent-mortgage supplements).
