Seymour Crawford
Question:30 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the measures she will take to address the impact of rising inflation on the real value of social welfare payments. [4854/03]
Written Answers - Social Welfare Benefits.
One of the key objectives of the 2003 social welfare package was to protect or enhance the value of all rates of payment in relative terms. The budget made provision for increases in the main personal rates of weekly payments ranging from 5.1% to 7.6% as well as additional increases, also ranging from 5.1% to 7.6%, in the weekly rate of qualified adult allowances.
Budget 2003 projected that prices will increase by an average of 4.8% in 2003 as a whole. In this regard, I welcome the recent fall in the annual rate of inflation, from 5% to 4.8%, as outlined in the consumer price index report for January last. In addition, budget 2003 also provided for additional increases to those aged 66 or over, in particular those on widows and old age pensions; increased or maintained the real value of all qualified adult rates of payment and ensured that they did not fall as a proportion of the associated personal rate; and made significant progress in our programme of increases in the level of child benefit.
Social welfare spending rose by over €3.5 billion between 1997 and 2002, a level of increase significantly in excess of the level of inflation. An additional €833 million in social welfare spending is provided for during this year, and this will bring the projected level of annual spending to over €10 billion for the first time. At a time of great economic uncertainty, this emphasises the Government's commitment to protecting those at highest risk. My colleagues and I are committed to safe guarding the position of all social welfare recipients and I look forward to making further progress, in the years ahead, on the achievement of our social inclusion commitments.
Question No. 31 answered with Question No. 17.
Question No. 32 answered with Question No. 10.