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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 Oct 2003

Vol. 573 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

130 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will increase old age pension, widows' pension and similar payments to protect the recipients against the rising cost of living; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24268/03]

The 2003 social welfare budget package included provision for increases in the main personal rates of weekly payments ranging from 5.1% to 7.6% as well as similar percentage increases in the weekly rate of qualified adult allowances. In particular, increases ranging from 5.7% to 7.6% were provided for recipients of old age and widow-widower's pensions. It is now projected by the Department of Finance that prices will increase by an average of 3.6% in 2003 as a whole. I particularly welcome the recent decline in the annual rate to 2.9% in September of this year. Consequently, the social welfare increases allocated in budget 2003 have been well ahead of the projected inflation rate. Social welfare spending rose by over €3.5 billion between 1997 and 2002. An additional €833 million in social welfare spending is provided for during this year and this will bring the projected level of annual spending to over €10 billion.

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