Peadar Clohessy
Question:40 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost to his Department of implementing the recommendations in the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, 1994 to 1999.
Written Answers. - Cost of Implementing Programme for Competitiveness and Work.
The main costs of the social welfare commitments in the Programme for Competitiveness and Work relate to the annual increases in social welfare rates of payment over the period of the programme. The progamme commits the Government to continue to maintain the real income position of those on social welfare and to continue the progress already made towards achieving the main recommended rates of the Commission on Social Welfare. As the Deputy will be aware, the Commission's priority rates have been provided for in this year's budget.
The programme acknowledges that further progress in reaching the Commission on Social Welfare's main recommended rates will have regard to the capacity of the economy and the budget to support the increase in expenditure involved. It is not possible to estimate the cost of the improvements which will be made over the period of the programme. I should mention, however, that the social welfare improvements announced in last January's budget will cost some £168 million in a full year. The extent and the cost of future annual increases in rates of payment will be matters for consideration by Government at the appropriate time. Other commitments in the programme which would have financial implications over the period of the programme will also fall to be considered by Government at the appropriate time.