Vol. 467 No. 4
234 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated current level of internal inflation each year in the overall social welfare system and in each of the main sub-systems; if he will give details of any associated projections available to him in this regard in respect of each of the next five years; and the overall rate of internal inflation during 1995. [13596/96]
I assume that the reference to internal inflation, as used by the Deputy, refers to the change in recipient numbers.
The statistical information requested by the Deputy on the numbers of recipients of social welfare payments in 1994, 1995 and 1996 is contained in the following table. Equivalent statistics for previous years are contained in the "Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services" reports which are available in the Dáil Library.
Projections for 1997 and 1998 are being considered in the context of the phased introduction of a multi-annual budgetary framework, as announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement of 23 January 1996, and will have to be considered and approved by Government in due course.
|
Type of Benefit, Pension or Assistance |
Recipients |
||||
|
1994 |
1995 |
% Change |
1996* |
% Change |
|
|
Old Age Pension (Contributory) |
70,820 |
69,179 |
(–2.3) |
68,514 |
(–1.0) |
|
Retirement Pension |
62,211 |
65,761 |
(5.7) |
66,882 |
(1.7) |
|
Old Age Pension (Non-Contributory) |
108,301 |
102,984 |
(–4.9) |
101,878 |
(–1.1) |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
15,284 |
15,023 |
(–1.7) |
14,895 |
(–0.9) |
|
Total Old Age |
256,616 |
252,947 |
(–1.4) |
252,169 |
(–0.3) |
|
Disability Benefit |
41,869 |
41,830 |
(–0.1) |
41,953 |
(0.3) |
|
Invalidity Pension |
40,226 |
42,092 |
(4.6) |
42,418 |
(0.8) |
|
Injury Benefit |
740 |
658 |
(–11.1) |
764 |
(16.1) |
|
Interim Disability Benefit |
854 |
1,006 |
(17.8) |
1,020 |
(1.4) |
|
Disablement Benefit |
8,646 |
8,977 |
(3.8) |
9,082 |
(1.2) |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
499 |
500 |
(0.2) |
505 |
(1.0) |
|
Total Illness |
92,834 |
95,063 |
(2.4) |
95,742 |
(0.7) |
|
Widow's/Widower's (Contributory) Pension (1) |
90,671 |
94,713 |
(4.5) |
95,248 |
(0.6) |
|
Widow's Pension (Non-Contributory) |
19,043 |
19,108 |
(0.3) |
19,248 |
(0.7) |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
13,662 |
14,284 |
(4.6) |
14,053 |
(–1.6) |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
2,095 |
2,125 |
(1.4) |
2,098 |
(–1.3) |
|
Prisoner's Wife's Allowance |
7 |
8 |
(14.3) |
6 |
(–25.0) |
|
Lone Parent's Allowance (Unmarried Parent) |
29,987 |
33,824 |
(12.8) |
34,796 |
(2.8) |
|
Lone Parent's Allowance (Separated Spouse) |
8,714 |
10,117 |
(16.1) |
10,357 |
(2.4) |
|
Lone Parent's Allowance (Widowed) |
1,880 |
1,744 |
(–7.2) |
1,726 |
(–1.0) |
|
Lone Parent's Allowance (Prisoner's Spouse) |
119 |
94 |
(–21.0) |
95 |
(1.1) |
|
Maternity Benefit |
3,971 |
3,889 |
(–2.1) |
4,065 |
(4.5) |
|
Health and Safety Benefit (2) |
4 |
17 |
(325.0) |
23 |
(35.3) |
|
Adoptive Benefit (3) |
— |
6 |
(—) |
10 |
(66.7) |
|
Orphan's Allowance (Contributory) |
709 |
765 |
(7.9) |
781 |
(2.1) |
|
Orphan's Pension (Non-Contributory) |
237 |
299 |
(26.2) |
313 |
(4.7) |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance (4) |
16,800 |
16,552 |
(–1.5) |
16,552 |
(—) |
|
Family Income Supplement |
10,671 |
11,398 |
(6.8) |
10,877 |
(–4.6) |
|
Carer's Allowance |
5,056 |
6,917 |
(36.8) |
7,281 |
(5.3) |
|
Blind Person's Pension |
— |
2,476 |
(—) |
2,465 |
(–0.4) |
|
Total Family Income Support |
203,626 |
218,336 |
(7.2) |
220,070 |
(0.8) |
|
Unemployment Benefit |
62,909 |
62,050 |
(–1.4) |
62,978 |
(1.5) |
|
Unemployment Assistance |
196,390 |
200,587 |
(2.1) |
199,455 |
(–0.6) |
|
Smallholders |
10,139 |
9,904 |
(–2.3) |
9,829) |
(–0.8) |
|
Total Unemployment |
269.438 |
272.541 |
(1.2) |
272,262 |
(–0.1) |
|
Rent Allowance |
794 |
746 |
(–6.0) |
737 |
(–1.2) |
|
Total Miscellaneous |
794 |
746 |
(–6.0) |
737 |
(–1.2) |
|
Total Weekly |
823,308 |
839,633 |
(2.0) |
840,980 |
(0.2) |
|
Child Benefits (5) — Families |
482,592 |
491,520 |
(1.9) |
495,447 |
(0.8) |
|
Children |
1,055,156 |
1,065,471 |
(1.0) |
1,073,084 |
(0.7) |
