asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department have undertaken any survey of the incidence of poverty in this country; and, if not, why.
18.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Incidence of Poverty.
17.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department or any related Government Department or agency have undertaken a survey to ascertain how far the present basic unemployment and pension rates will go towards meeting the cost of rent, light, fuel, clothing and food for a person for one week; if not, if his Department will undertake such a survey; and, if not, why.
19.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the daily unemployment benefit rate for a single man; and the basis on which this is calculated.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 18 and 19 together.
I am aware that a number of research institutes, including the Economic and Social Research Institute, are at present considering what research might best be followed in regard to the problem of poverty.
I may say, however, that the Government do not have to await the findings of any research to justify continuing improvements in the levels of social welfare benefits. As I have intimated on many occasions it has been and continues to be my constant endeavour, in accordance with declared Government policy, to improve and extend the social welfare services as much and as rapidly as possible within the limits of available resources until the range and levels of benefits reach reasonable standards of general acceptance.
The Social Welfare Bill recently passed is a further step in this direction. The rates of social welfare payments are constantly under survey in my Department and very substantial increases in them have taken place in real terms in recent years. The only constraints at present on their further improvement are the limits of the national resources and the need to allocate additional resources becoming available as equitably as possible between the many classes of people who look to my Department for some or all of their income.
The present daily rate of unemployment benefit for a single man is 83 pence, which will rise by 12 per cent to 93 pence on the 2nd October next. The daily rate represents one-sixth, rounded up to the next new penny, of the statutory weekly rate.
If the Minister's Department have not undertaken any survey of the incidence of poverty in this country would he then accept the findings of Mr. Séamus Ó Cinnéide who did undertake a survey and who published the results of this survey? Has the Minister any comments to make on this survey?
That is a separate question.
It is not.
It is a separate question. The Deputy is asking if the Department have undertaken any survey. The Deputy is now introducing another survey.
I am asking the Minister if he would look into the survey that was undertaken.
That is a separate question. It has nothing to do with this.
It arises out of the reply.
I would not say whether the supplementary is a separate question but I do not accept that as being a proper survey.
In the light of that would the Minister not think it desirable that the Department should undertake a survey of the incidence of poverty in Ireland?
Could the Minister give us any information as to the precise nature of the surveys which he says are being undertaken at the moment by the Economic and Social Research Institute?
No.
The Minister does not know.
Has the Minister sought information on this matter? The Minister has not properly answered the question I asked. I am asking him if he would give us details of any surveys which have been conducted and he is not able to do this.
I said the surveys are proceeding. When they are completed I will deal with the matter.
The Minister answered two questions together. Did he say that the unemployment rate was one-sixth?
Approximately one-sixth.
Why, if it is one-sixth, is Saturday not rated?
It does not necessarily mean that Saturday has to be rated if it is divided by six.
Do they not sign on for five days?
Yes.
They are only paid one-sixth. Does it not seem logical if they sign on for five days for unemployment benefit that it should be one-fifth per day?
In a recent decision the appeals officer, as the Deputy knows—that is what he is coming at——
That is what the question is all about. I am interested in the reply.
——decided that Saturday was not a working day.
He still only pays one-sixth. Does it not seem illogical to do this?
There need not be any relation between the two things at all. The appeals officer is a completely independent person.
Is it not incumbent on the Minister to tell the appeals officer that if there is a five-day week he should pay one-fifth per day?
It is not incumbent on me to tell him anything. What I might do is change the law and I do not want to do that, to take authority on myself to do that.
Could the Minister not change the law?
I could but I have no intention of taking the authority of making these decisions. I do not think the House would want me to do that.
Would the Minister like to express his own personal opinion on being paid one-sixth per day and having a five-day week?
No. The opinion I would express is that in examining the regulations governing the two things there is a different set of criteria.
It is very unsatisfactory.