asked the Minister for Social Welfare what notice has been given to employers of the increase in the limit for social insurance from £1,200 to £1,600.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Insurance.
22.
The new remuneration limit for compulsory insurance under the Social Welfare Acts, in the case of non-manual workers, was notified by means of advertisement in the national daily and provincial newspapers.
23.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare what notice was given to employers of the rounding up and down for decimalisation purposes of insurance stamps.
The decimalised rates of insurance stamps payable from 15th February, 1971, were notified by means of advertisement in the national daily newspapers on 8th Febbruary, 1971, and in the provincial newspapers for the week ended 13th February, 1971.
24.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare what notice is given to employers when social insurance contributions are increased.
When social insurance contributions are increased, the new rates are notified to employers by means of advertisement in the national daily and provincial newspapers some weeks in advance of, and again close to, the operative date.
25.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether arrangements will be made to notify employees directly at reasonable intervals of the benefits to which they are entitled under social insurance.
It is considered that insured persons are aware, in a general way, of the benefits for which the social insurance system provides. Should they need information on particular aspects there are a number of sources from which they can inquire, for example, the Department's information section at Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, the local employment exchanges and employment offices, social welfare officers and local agents of the Department. In addition, the Department's information booklet is available for consultation at all post offices. The booklet is revised annually and distributed free to a large number of personnel officers, trade unions, et cetera, and I think to Deputies too. Direct periodic notification by the issue of this booklet to individual employees, as is, perhaps, envisaged in the question, would be very costly, involving the printing and distribution of some 800,000 copies, and the need for such action is not apparent.
Would the Minister not agree that the method of notification to employers and employees outlined in his reply to these questions is not entirely satisfactory and that in many cases both employers and employees are unaware of the position they find themselves in and of their obligations in the case of employers and their opportunities in the case of employees?
I would have to say quite honestly in reply to that question that, while I have had many complaints about social welfare matters, lack of knowledge of some new scheme is not something about which I have had complaints.
Or existing schemes?
We have advertisements in the local and provincial press. The first knowledge the people in rural Ireland get of these matters is when they are introduced in the House and they never miss a single thing.
Would the Minister not agree that employers sometimes miss some of their obligations?
They do and they may pretend lack of knowledge, but I doubt it.
Would the Minister not think it would be a good idea to ensure that they cannot pretend lack of knowledge by notifying them? There are not 700,000 employers.
800,000.
That was last year. It is 700,000 this year.
Employers?
Question No. 26.