Vol. 528 No. 2
81 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the latest estimated value of the minimum social welfare payment if it was pitched at 34% and 40% of average industrial earnings as suggested by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions retired worker's committee and the Senior Citizen's Parliament. [29711/00]
The latest figures available for average industrial earnings relate to March 2000 and show that average earnings per week were £330.18. If a minimum social welfare payment was pitched at 34% and 40% of this figure, it would amount to £112.26 and £132.07 respectively.
Using percentages of average industrial earnings is one of a number of options which may be considered by the working group, established under the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, to examine the range of issues associated with the benchmarking and indexation of social welfare payments. This will include their long-term economic, budgetary, PRSI contribution, distributive and incentive implications, in light of trends in economic, demographic and labour market patterns. It is envisaged that the working group will also take account of work being carried out to review the underlying methodology of the national anti-poverty strategy. The group met for the first time today.
