asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will introduce proposals for legislation authorising the payment of a social welfare benefit to a husband who has to cease working when his wife is ill or when she has completed her pregnancy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
132.
It is not intended to introduce legislation to provide for the payment of a special social welfare benefit in the circumstances referred to by the Deputy. Contingencies of this nature are, in case of need, at present met by the provision of home assistance by public assistance authorities or health boards acting on their behalf. Proposals for legislation for the reform of the home assistance service are now being formulated and the needs of persons such as those referred to by the Deputy are being borne in mind in this regard. This legislation will be introduced in the near future.
133.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of married women who qualified for social welfare benefit under the new regulations abolishing the requirements of post-marriage contributions; and the number of applicants in this category.
The contribution condition which required an insured woman who married to have 26 contributions paid in respect of employment after her marriage in order to qualify for certain social welfare benefit was revoked with effect from 1st October, 1973. There are no statistics available to show the number of married women who qualified for benefit by virtue of the abolition of this contribution test or the number of married women who applied for the benefits affected since 1st October, 1973.