asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the total cost of home assistance payments and the number of persons in receipt of such payments during each of the years 1947-48, 1948-49, 1949-50 and the estimated figures for 1950-51.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Home Assistance Payments.
The total cost of home assistance payments for the year ended 31st March, 1948, was £578,026 13s. 3d. and the number of persons in receipt of such payments as at 31st March, 1948, was 63,173. The corresponding figures for the year ended 31st March, 1949, were £621,196 3s. 11d. and 62,163.
Statistics for the year ended 31st March, 1950, are not yet complete, but the corresponding figures for the period 27th March, 1949, to 25th March, 1950, were £731,585 and 59,979.
The Deputy will appreciate that home assistance payments are made by local public assistance authorities and estimates of expenditure are not furnished to my Department. The estimated figures for the year 1950-51 cannot therefore be given.