Vol. 549 No. 3
39 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the total moneys paid out for supplementary welfare allowance in 2001; the breakdown of such payments for the years 1995 to 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6286/02]
The latest estimate of expenditure under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme for 2001 is £315 million, €400 million. A breakdown of this expenditure is given in the following tabular statement. Expenditure under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme for the years 1995 to 2000 is set out in IR£ and € euro in the following tabular statements.
Total expenditure rose by £180.8 million, €229.6 million, in the six years between 1995 and 2001. This represents an overall increase of almost 135%. The category that represents the most significant portion of overall expenditure continues to be rent supplements. In 2001, rent supplements accounted for almost 45% of total supplementary welfare allowance expenditure. The continuing rise in rent supplement expenditure is for the most part a result of the significant increase in the cost of private rented accommodation which has occurred over the past few years.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government has decided in principle to set up a new scheme of rent assistance which will be operated by the local authorities. When this scheme is put in place more appropriate housing solutions will be offered to people with long-term housing needs and there will be less recourse to supplementary welfare allowance rent supplement.
|
£m |
€m |
|
|
Basic payments |
92.9 |
118.00 |
|
Rent Supplements |
141.3 |
179.40 |
|
Mortgage interest supplement |
5.0 |
6.35 |
|
Other supplements* |
8.2 |
10.40 |
|
Exceptional needs payments |
32.4 |
41.10 |
|
Back to school clothing/footwear |
10.1 |
12.80 |
|
Administration |
25.1 |
31.90 |
|
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
|
£m |
£m |
£m |
£m |
£m |
£m |
|
|
Basic Payments |
20.8 |
25.7 |
33.1 |
39.9 |
53.5 |
69.3 |
|
Rent supplements |
54.7 |
62.6 |
75.3 |
88 |
101 |
118.6 |
|
Mortgage supplements |
9.8 |
10.5 |
10.1 |
9.1 |
6.5 |
4.6 |
|
Other supplements |
4.1 |
4.6 |
5.5 |
5.6 |
6.0 |
6.6 |
|
ENPs |
17.8 |
20.5 |
21.6 |
21.4 |
22.0 |
24.3 |
|
BSCF |
12.3 |
12.9 |
11.9 |
11.7 |
9.0 |
10.7 |
|
Administration |
14.7 |
17.4 |
18.1 |
20.9 |
21.8 |
21.8 |
|
Total |
134.2 |
154.2 |
175.6 |
196.6 |
219.8 |
255.9 |
|
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
Basic Payments |
26.4 |
32.6 |
42 |
50.7 |
68 |
88 |
|
Rent supplements |
69.5 |
79.5 |
95.6 |
111.7 |
128.2 |
150.6 |
|
Mortgage Supplements |
12.4 |
13.3 |
12.8 |
11.5 |
8.2 |
5.9 |
|
Other supplements |
5.2 |
5.8 |
7 |
7.1 |
7.6 |
8.4 |
|
ENPs |
22.6 |
26 |
27.5 |
27.2 |
28 |
30.8 |
|
BSCF |
15.6 |
16.4 |
15.1 |
14.9 |
11.4 |
13.6 |
|
Administration |
18.7 |
22 |
23 |
26.5 |
27.7 |
27.7 |
|
Total |
170.4 |
195.7 |
223 |
249.6 |
279.1 |
325 |
