Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Apr 1994

Vol. 441 No. 8

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Michael McDowell

Ceist:

43 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will provide adequate independent payments for separated spouses, adult dependants, welfare reicipients, and carers of the elderly and ill, including recipients of disabled persons maintenance allowances, in order to move away from the concept of dependency and towards a system of individual entitlements for all; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The Deputy's question raises what are, in effect, two separate issues: First, the issue of the adequacy of social welfare payments; second, the issue of moving away from the concept of dependency in the social welfare code towards individual entitlement for all.

In relation to the issue of adequacy, I have ensured that during my time as Minister for Social Welfare, social welfare payments have not only kept pace with inflation but showed substantial real increases.

These increases can be seen in a continuing rise towards the levels recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare. All long term rates now exceed the Commission on Social Welfare's priority rates. From next July, short term rates will be brought above that level.

The concept of dependency in the social welfare system has its origins in the traditional family structure of a breadwinner with dependent spouse and children. I am aware that the social welfare system needs to be constantly evaluated in the light of changing circumstances.

I have stated on several occasions my commitment to the provision of pensions cover for women who work full time in the home. The Commission for the Status of Women was of the view that adult dependants of social welfare recipients, the vast bulk of whom are married women, should be given recognition in their own right and the term "adult dependant" should be replaced. The National Pensions Board recommended that when persons who have been full-time homemakers reach pensionable age, the allowance currently paid in respect of them as adult dependants should instead be paid directly to them. I am currently considering the implications of these recommendations with a view to developing proposals.

A broader system of individual rights and payments would represent a significant change in the existing social welfare system and would have significant cost inmplications.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

44 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties confronting widows who are disabled; and whether he will consider a scheme whereby the free telephone rental allowance will be made available to them.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The free telephone rental allowance scheme operated by my Department is available to people who are in receipt of certain social welfare type payments and who are either living alone or only with children or with persons who, because they are so permanently incapacitated, could not get help in an emergency. The main purpose of the scheme is to ensure that people in this vulnerable situation, particularly elderly people, have some way of getting help when it is needed.

The living alone condition has been modified to suit exceptional circumstances in a household. For example, if the applicant is a person who is permanently incapacitated and could not get help in an emergency, one other person may come to live with the applicant without affecting the entitlement. I am introducing two further improvements from July next in the free telephone rental allowance. First, if the applicant is in need of constant care and attention, a carer may join the household to take care of the applicant without affecting the entitlement. Second, if the recipient is 75 years of age or over, he or she will be entitled even if there is another person living in the household.

The question of extending the free telephone rental allowance to additional groups not covered at present would have financial implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context. The number of people currently availing of the allowance is about 114,000 and the annual cost of the scheme is about £20 million.

In so far as widows are concerned, I would like to mention that I have extended entitlement to my Department's free schemes from July next so as to allow widows of 60 years and over to retain entitlement to any free schemes formerly granted to their late husbands.