Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 7

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Dan Wallace

Ceist:

13 Mr. D. Wallace asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give the comparative social welfare rates for Ireland and the United Kingdom in respect of unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit, non-contributory old age pension and single parent schemes. [10381/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following statement:

Comparison Between UK and Ireland

Unemployment Benefit, Unemployment Assistance, Old Age (Non-Contributory) Pension, Lone Parents

UK	Ireland
£ (April 1996)	IR£ (July 1996)
1. Unemployment Benefit		1. Unemployment Benefit
Max. Personal Rate — depending on age	48.25 — 61.15	Max. Personal Rate	64.50
Adult Dependant Increase — depending on age	29.75 — 36.60	Adult Dependant Increase	38.50
Child Dependant Increase — depending on age	11.15(if beneficiary is over pension age)	Child Dependant Increase	13.20
2. Income Support*		2. Unemployment Assistance
Personal Rate — depending on age	28.85 — 47.90	(a) Short-term Max.	62.40
Adult Dependant Increase	See Below	Adult Dependant Increase	38.50
Child Dependant Increase	See Below	Child Dependant Increase	13.20
Couple — depending on age	57.20 — 75.20	(b) Long-term Max.	64.50
		Adult Dependant Increase	38.50
Child Dependant Increase	16.45 — 37.90(depending on age)	Child Dependant Increase	13.20
3. Income Support (Pensioner)		3. Old Age (Non-Contributory) or Blind Person's Pension
Max Personal Rate	47.90	Max Personal Rate	64.50 — 69.50
Adult Dependant Increase	See Below	Adult Dependant Increase	38.50
Child Dependant Increase	16.45 — 37.90	Child Dependant Increase	13.20
Couple	75.20
4. Lone Parents (Income Support)*		4. Lone Parents
Max Personal Rate — depending on age	28.85 — 47.90	Max Personal Rate	64.30
Child Dependant Increase	16.45 — 37.90	Child Dependant Increase	15.20
	(depending on age)

*Note: The Income Support schemes outlined above are also paid with premiums based on personal (e.g. disability) or family circumstances, e.g.:

Family Premium: at least one member is a child or young person	£10.55
Lone Parent Premium: Claimant has a dependent child but has no partner	£5.20
Pensioner Premium: Qualifying person is 60 or over and
— single or lone parent	£19.15
— couple	£28.90
Enhanced Pensioner Premium: Qualifying person is 75 or over and
— single or lone parent	£21.30
— couple	£28.90
Higher Pensioner Premium: Qualifying person is 80 or over and
— single or lone parent	£25.90
— couple	£37.05

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

14 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on the further contribution his Department can make towards ensuring a minimum income for persons in low paid employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10427/96]

Noel Davern

Ceist:

29 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on the introduction of an in-work payment for single persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10376/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 29 together.

Under existing provisions, family income supplement is payable to low paid workers with children, whose weekly earnings are below specified income limits. A significant number of improvements to FIS were provided for in the 1996 budget, including an increase of £10 in the weekly income limits used to determine entitlement, thereby ensuring that most recipients will receive an increase of £6 per week. The new income limits as provided for in the Social Welfare Act, 1996, range from £195 for families with one child, up to £334 for families with eight or more children. Other improvements in FIS announced in this years budget include a reduction, from six to three months, in the minimum period which the employment is expected to last; a reduction in the number of hours which must be worked in order to qualify for FIS, from 20 to 19 hours per week; the extension of FIS to jobsharers; and increasing the rate of FIS payable on the birth of a child rather than awaiting the annual review of entitlement.

The Social Welfare Act, 1996, provides for a related improvement, which will allow people who have been unemployed for 12 months or more to retain entitlement to increases for children payable at the full rate, for a period of up to 13 weeks on taking up employment which is expected to last for at least four weeks. This improvement will alleviate the difficulties encountered by some families during the period between the termination of their unemployment payment and the award of FIS. This is designed to complement the support provided by FIS for low paid workers and medical card retension.

One of the ways in which FIS could be further enhanced, would be to assess earnings on a net basis, rather than on gross basis, as at present. Proposals in this area are currently being examined by my Department. The policy and cost implications of extending FIS to single people are also being considered. Implementation of any proposals arising from this examination would have to be considered in the light of available resources and other demands for improvements in social welfare.

The Social Welfare Act, 1996, provides for the introduction of a number of other pro-employment measures which are designed to facilitate unemployed people in seeking and taking up new employment opportunities.

This Act provides for a reform of unemployment assistance, including revised provisions for the assessment of earnings from employment. This will make it easier for people to calculate how much better off they will be if they take up part-time or casual employment. In addition, under the new one-parent family payment, which will be payable to people with earnings up to £12,000 per year, the first £6,000 of earnings plus half the earnings in excess of this amount, will be disregarded in the assessment of means.