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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 20 Jul 1961

Vol. 191 No. 9

Committee on Finance - Vote 19—Miscellaneous Expenses.

I move:

That a sum not exceeding £11,380 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1962, for certain Miscellaneous Expenses, including certain Grants-in-Aid.

I should like to raise a question which I endeavoured to raise earlier. This Estimate covers bounties for triplets and centenarians.

What about quads?

Perhaps the Minister will enlighten us on that also? These bounties to mothers of triplets and to centenarians are provided from public funds. On each occasion on which a mother gives birth to triplets, she is the recipient of a letter of congratulation from the President, which is accompanied by a cheque. On the occasion of a person reaching the age of 100 years, which happens to very few of us, a letter of good wishes is sent by the President and there is a cheque for £5 enclosed.

I have endeavoured in the past to make an inquiry with regard to the giving of a few pounds on these occasions. First, may I say that the family of the person lucky enough to reach the age of 100 years, when he receives a letter either from the past President or from President de Valera offering congratulations and also receives a cheque for £5, is inclined to express the opinion: "There is the President putting his hand into his own pocket and giving us a present of a £5 note." It is only right to make it clear for the public records that this cheque is not out of the President's pocket. That is very important.

That is a very important point, I am sure.

It is very important in that this is public money provided by this House. Many years ago, when a person, reaching the age of 100 years, received £5, the £5 note was worth something. The £5 note which was sent to such a person in 1932 is now equal to about 38/6 by present day values. Whilst everything has increased, there is no question whatever of increasing the bounty given to a person who reaches 100 years of age or the mother of triplets. They do not seem to be given any increase in the bounty.

This is the first time this matter has been raised in this House. I raise it for the purpose of putting it to the Minister for Finance who pays the Bill— it is not the President—that he should increase the bounty in relation to a person who celebrates his 100th birthday to at least £20. I feel that this is worthy of consideration by the House. Little can be purchased for a £5 note nowadays. The £5 note was quite an unusual bounty to receive 20 or 30 years ago. If a bounty is to be given to the mother of triplets or a person who celebrates his 100th birthday, it ought to be a bounty which will be appreciated. It should be of such amount that the person who receives it can buy something in the nature of a reasonably good gift. I feel that the bounty of £5 is an unreasonable one.

I raise the matter in the hope that the Minister will give consideration to increasing these bounties. In every Estimate which has gone through the House, substantial increases have been given all round except in the cases I have mentioned.

The Deputy said that a dozen times already.

And he will say it again. I want to tell the House and the country that this is not £5 out of the President's pocket but £5 out of the taxpayers' money.

The Deputy said that before, too.

I cannot understand why Deputy Loughman is so worried about this. I can understand why the gentlemen beside him would be worried but the least said about that the better. I am making this suggestion to the Minister for Finance in the hope that he will give the matter serious, favourable and sympathetic consideration.

I am not so much interested in the question as to who pays the bounty as in the fact that the money should at least be doubled. If £5 was good enough 20 or 30 years ago, it is not good enough now and it should be doubled. Just for informaation, I should like the Minister to break down the figures. How many centenarians and triplets were there last year? We would like to know.

Have there been any quadruplets?

I do not know.

It would be interesting to know.

I want to make it clear that the President congratulates a person who reaches 100 years of age but he does not congratulate people who have triplets. The State pays the bounty and has always done so. I thought everybody knew that. It is only a token. How can you compensate a man on attaining 100 years of age with £20 or £100? It is only a token.

Make the token worthwhile.

An incentive bonus.

For triplets?

The money would not pay for napkins.

Vote put and agreed to.
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