asked the Minister for Social Welfare his response to the projected growth of 29 per cent in the cost of social welfare over the decade at unchanged rates of payment according to NESC Report No. 72, and to the call for a review of priorities in the social welfare area in the light of this projected growth.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Costs.
6.
It was because of the need to review priorities that the Commission on Social Welfare were established in August 1983 to carry out a major review of the whole social welfare code having regard to the needs of modern Irish society. The commission were asked to report specifically on the financial implications and relative priorities of their recommendations and the Government will take full account of these recommendations in planning the future structure and operation of the social welfare services.
Do the Department accept the figures they project for the growth in payment in various categories? Has the Minister not set himself some priorities rather than waiting for a commission? I fear that if resource constraints come upon us the sort of changes effected might end up being very arbitrary.
The projections are based on various assumptions regarding migration, activities rates in the labour force, participation rates in education, the level of unemployment and growth of disability. Without a general expenditure model of our own, the Department are not in a position to agree or disagree with these assumptions or with the expenditure forecasts. However, the main emphasis of the NESC report was on the need to establish priorities in social welfare policy. This need had already been identified and manifested itself in the establishment of the Commission on Social Welfare. The commission were specifically requested to include the financial implications and relative priorities of their recommendations in their report. The commission have been asked to report by March.