Colm M. Hilliard
Question:468 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the allocation for child benefit is 21 per cent greater than the 1995 figure under Subhead D of Vote 40. [19324/96]
Written Answers. - Increases in Estimates.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:469 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the lone parent's allowance is 9 per cent greater than the 1995 figure under Subhead G of Vote 40 under the 1996 Estimates. [19325/96]
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:470 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason the carer's allowance is 35 per cent greater than the 1995 figure under Subhead L of Vote 40 in the 1996 Estimates. [19326/96]
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:471 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the 142 per cent increase under Subhead N of Vote 40 in the 1996 Estimates. [19327/96]
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:472 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the reduction of 23 per cent under Subhead S of Vote 40 in the 1996 Estimates. [19328/96]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 468 to 472, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy is as follows. The increase in Subhead D — child benefit, is due mainly to the carry over costs of the 1995 budget improvements — the monthly increase of £7 per child and the extension of the scheme to 18 year olds in full time education and on certain FÁS courses. The increase in Subhead G — lone parent's allowance, is due mainly to provision for a projected increase of over 5,000 in the number of recipients.
The increase in Subhead L — carer's allowance, is due mainly to provision for a projected increase of over 2,000 in the number of recipients. Responsibility for funding disabled person's maintenance allowance (DPMA) was transferred to the Department of Social Welfare from 1 August 1995. The increase in Subhead N arises mainly from the provision for full year funding in 1996 in the Social Welfare Vote, compared to five months funding in 1995.
The decrease in Subhead S — grants for community and voluntary service (Exchequer funded), is due to the fact that the 1995 outturn includes special grants to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Protestant Aid, which are not provided for in the 1996 Abridged Estimates. The Abridged Version of the Estimates for Public Expenditure does not include the costs of the 1996 budget improvements.