asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proportion of Exchequer contribution to the Social Insurance Fund for each of the last five years; and how this compares with other EEC countries.
7.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Insurance Fund.
6.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proportion of employee contribution to the Social Insurance Fund for the last five years; and how this compares with other EEC countries.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together and, as the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Proportion of income of Social Insurance Fund contributed by Exchequer and by employees.
|
Year |
Exchequer |
Employees |
|
1972-73 |
33.2% |
31.8% |
|
1973-74 |
30.1% |
30.8% |
|
1974 (April-December) |
21.7% |
31.7% |
|
1975 |
23.2% |
29.2% |
|
1976 (Provisional) |
20.9% |
29.0% |
Information which would be exactly comparable regarding other EEC countries is not available, but the following table, which relates to the year 1975. gives particulars of the sources of finance for "social protection" in member states of the EEC.
|
Country |
State or other public authorities |
Employers |
Employees |
Other Sources |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Belgium |
30.0 |
45.5 |
21.3 |
3.2 |
|
Denmark |
84.1 |
10.4 |
2.8 |
2.7 |
|
Germany |
26.8 |
44.9 |
24.3 |
4.0 |
|
France |
11.6 |
65.5 |
20.3 |
2.6 |
|
Ireland |
63.6 |
22.0 |
13.7 |
0.7 |
|
Italy |
19.8 |
59.7 |
15.2 |
5.3 |
|
Luxembourg |
30.0 |
38.7 |
24.3 |
7.3 |
|
Netherlands |
15.9 |
41.6 |
33.6 |
8.9 |
|
United Kingdom |
42.1 |
35.0 |
16.4 |
6.5 |
Note: In addition to the financing of social insurance funds, the foregoing figures embrace the financing of social assistance services, health services and pension schemes for central and local Government employees, etc.
How do we compare with EEC countries with regard to the proportion of employee contribution?
It is very difficult to compare like with like because there are different systems in the different countries. I have here a very interesting table on which, when the Deputy gets an opportunity of studying it, he may like to table further questions. It is intended to compare like with like.