asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the extent, if any, by which the weekly rates of social insurance benefits and social assistance benefits exceed minimum subsistence levels.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
25.
There is no official definition of minimum subsistence levels and there are, therefore, no standards of that kind to which the rates of social welfare benefits could be related.
As the Deputy is aware, the levels of benefits are regularly increased and at a rate higher than the increase in the cost of living. Some can now be regarded as approaching a reasonable figure, having regard to our resources, and it is hoped to make all of them sufficient as national prosperity grows.
Would the Minister not agree that there is a generally recognised subsistence level both in his Department and at local authority level?
No. I would not agree.
I must give the Minister the information. It is included in quite a number of documents from his Department.
I know all the criteria that may be used or attempted to be used. None of this is definitive in any way. Subsistence, poverty, and all things pertaining to it, are relevant.
Would the minimum subsistence level not be decided upon when it is agreed to give home assistance?
No. The amount necessary for a person to subsist with physical efficiency is something which has not been decided even by international bodies who have examined the question.
Is home assistance not given because people are not able to live? Is home assistance not granted to bring the allowance up to minimum subsistence level? Is that right?
The figure given in home assistance or in other welfare payments are national and are related to what might be regarded as reasonable. It is wrong to assume that they are based on some particularly defined figure of subsistence level. They are not.
The Minister must know that what he says is all cod. The whole point is that additional home assistance is granted because it is believed they are under subsistence level and in an effort to bring them up to that level. It is in numerous documents published over the years by the Minister's Department.
The Minister is not very well versed in regard to his Department.
The more I look at it the more I realise that there are no documents——
Next question.