Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 5

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefit.

Rory O'Hanlon

Question:

125 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the funeral death grant to the small number of people and their dependants who ceased paying social welfare contributions at work before 1971; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3283/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

Death grant is a social insurance benefit which is payable, subject to certain PRSI contribution conditions, on the death of an insured person or of their spouse or child under 18. The amount of the grant varies with the contribution record and, in the case of children, with the age of the child.

As regards people who retired before the introduction of the death grant on 1 October 1970, the position is that social insurance contributions paid prior to that date did not contain an element in respect of the cost of the death grant. Consequently, people who ceased to be insurably employed before that date would not have contributed towards the cost of the scheme and, accordingly, there are no plans to extend the death grant to include that category.