Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004

Wednesday, 29 September 2004

Ceisteanna (1166)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

1346 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her Department has plans to end the anomaly whereby a married couple, both of whom are in receipt of welfare payments, has only one entitlement to the maximum personal payment whereas a couple who are not married and in exactly the same situation both have an entitlement to the maximum payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22341/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

Married and cohabiting couples are treated uniformly under the social welfare code. In a number of social assistance schemes where each one of a couple has an entitlement to a personal rate of payment, the overall amount payable is limited to the relevant family rate. This arrangement applies equally to unmarried and cohabiting couples. There are currently no plans to change these arrangements.