Vol. 455 No. 4
133 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of married women who have been paid equal treatment arrears following the recent High Court decision; the amount of money involved; and when the balance will be paid. [12225/95]
The arrangements introduced to give effect to the High Court decision provide for the payments due to married women affected by the delay in implementing Directive 79/7, to be made on a phased basis.
About 70,000 married women will receive a payment on account by August 1995 and the necessary preparations for this are ongoing. These payments will consist of the adult dependant allowance for the period December 1984 to May 1986; payments in respect of child dependant allowances for the period December 1984 to November 1986 and compensation based on inflation on the payment on account and on amounts already paid under the 1992 retrospective legislation. Any remaining entitlements in respect of the adult dependant allowance, child dependant allowances or unemployment assistance will be paid from September 1995 to September 1996. Entitlement in respect of transitional payments will be processed immediately thereafter.
The overall cost of giving full effect to the decision of the High Court is estimated at £260 million of which £200 million will be paid by the end of this year.
