asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development if his attention has been drawn to the statements in Page 78 of Report 44 of the National Economic and Social Council Comments on Development for full Employment that it can be derived from the Green Paper targets that social welfare payments as a share of total personal income would fall from 11.4 per cent in 1978 to 9.6 per cent in 1980; and the policy of his Department in relation to this projected allocation of social resources.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
289.
I am aware of the statement referred to by the Deputy. I would draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that these percentages refer to total expenditure on social welfare payments and to total personal income. Within these totals there is room for variation in estimates of per capita receipts depending on the assumptions made.
Government policy is to ensure that the standard of living of those on welfare payments is not eroded by rising prices. Real increases in social welfare payments are not precluded by the Green Paper and the extent to which such are possible in 1979 will be considered in the context of the next budget.