Vol. 472 No. 2
52 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will publish the promised review by the ESRI on the minimum adequate rates recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare as announced in the programme, A Government of Renewal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22279/96]
72 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on the level of social welfare payments; and his desired level of such payments in 1997. [22179/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 72 together.
It is expected that the research which was commissioned by the Department and is being undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, will be finalised and published by the ESRI before the end of the year.
Also being completed by the ESRI is a report into poverty in the 1990s in Ireland. This study utilises the 1994 Living in Ireland Survey to provide an updated picture of the extent of poverty in Ireland and who is affected. Both reports form part of a substantial programme of research being carried out at the ESRI sponsored by the Department of Social Welfare and the Combat Poverty Agency.
Together with the national anti-poverty strategy, these studies and other key reports, such as that of the Expert Working Group on the Integration of Tax and Social Welfare, will contribute to informing public debate on the issue of poverty, while also providing a basis for assessing the adequacy of the current rates of social welfare entitlements and the standard of living of social welfare recipients.
With regard to levels of payments, in 1985, the Commission on Social Welfare estimated that the minimum adequate income required by a single adult was £50 per week. This was termed the "main rate" and is equivalent to £68.10 in 1996 terms.
At that time, the only social welfare schemes that provided rates of payment at or above the main rate were old age contributory pension, retirement pension and some occupational injury schemes. All other payments were between 64 per cent and 93 per cent of the main rate.
Significant progress has been made in recent budgets in bringing rates of payment up to the minimum identified by the Commission. Increases in this year's budget brought all social welfare payments to the minimum of 92 per cent of the main rate after compensating for inflation. The widow's-widower's contributory pension reached the main rate when the budget increases were implemented in June. The bulk of the remaining payments are now at least 95 per cent of the main rate.
The appropriate levels at which payments will be set in 1997 will be considered in the budget context.
