andJ. Lynch asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state (1) the maximum individual weekly payments under the Workmen's Compensation Acts from 1930 to date, (2) the average weekly rate of wages at the time of each alteration in the rate of payment, and (3) the percentage increase in premiums charged by insurance companies at the time of each increase.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Workmen's Compensation Acts.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report tables showing particulars under headings (1) and (2). It is not possible to give an average weekly rate of wages covering all occupations and all areas. Such information as is available is contained in table (2). In regard to (3), I cannot give the information sought as I have no function in the matter.
The tabular statement is as follows:
|
(1) |
||
|
Date |
Maximum Individual Weekly Payment |
Legislation |
|
1930 |
35/- |
Workmen's Compensation (War Addition) Amendment Act, 1919. |
|
1st August, 1934 |
30/- |
Workmen's Compensation Act, 1934. |
|
1st June, 1943 |
37/6 |
Emergency Powers (No. 274) Order, 1943. |
|
1st January, 1949 |
50/- |
Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Act 1948. |
|
1st October, 1953* |
50/- |
Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Act, 1953. |
* Although the maximum individual weekly payment remained at 50/- under the Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Act, 1953, the Act provided, as from 1st October, 1953, for the payment of supplemental allowances to an injured workman in respect of a wife who was married to him at the time of the accident and in respect of each of two children under the age of 15 years, born to him not later than 10 months after the accident. The maximum weekly supplemental allowance in respect of the wife is 12/- and in respect of each child 7/-.
(2) (a) Average weekly rate of wages of adult male agricultural labourers without free house or allowances of any kind at the dates shown:
|
12/7/1930 |
24s. |
6d. |
Based on special returns of actual weekly earnings. |
|
14/7/1934 |
21s. |
0d. |
|
|
1/6/1943 |
36s. |
3d. |
Minimum rates under Agriculture Wages (Minimum Rates) Orders. |
|
3/1/1949 |
61s. |
3d. |
|
|
1/10/1953 |
81s. |
6d. |
(b) Average weekly earnings of adult males in the industries covered by the Census of Industrial Production:
|
All industries and services |
|||
|
s. |
d. |
||
|
October, 1938 |
54 |
11 |
|
|
,, 1943 |
64 |
6 |
|
|
,, 1948 |
100 |
5 |
|
|
,, 1952 |
(Nearest date to 1st October, 1953, for which the figure is available) |
126 |
0 |
NOTE: Particulars for previous years are not available.