Joe Walsh
Question:320 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of people who have benefited from equality payments arrears; and the amount of money paid to date. [13204/95]
Written Answers. - Equal Treatment Arrears Provisions.
The number of claimants who have benefited to date from the equal treatment arrears provisions announced last March is 68,000 and the total expenditure to date is £142.5 million.
This means that in line with the commitment given last March that all claimants, with the exception of a small number where more detailed examination to determine entitlement was required, have been issued with a payment on account. The remaining claimants will be paid within the next two weeks.
The payments on account represent a substantial part of the total arrears due to each claimant. Further payments on account will be issued before the end of the year as part of the overall expenditure provision of £200 million for arrears in 1995. The balance of the arrears due will be paid between January 1996 and mid 1997.