asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in respect of each of the years 1951-52 to 1955-56 (a) the amount expended on treatment benefit, (b) the cost of administration of all social welfare schemes under his Department, (c) the amount contributed by county borough councils towards the cost of unemployment assistance, (d) the dividends from invested moneys of the Social Insurance Fund, (e) the surplus, if any, of income from the Social Insurance Fund over expenditure, and (f) the amount of expenditure on marriage benefits, maternity benefit and maternity allowances.

The information required is set out in the attached tabular statement:—

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the estimated amounts to be paid in the current financial year in respect of (a) disability benefit, (b) unemployment benefit, (c) widows' and orphans' contributory pensions, (d) maternity allowances, (e) marriage benefit, (f) maternity benefit, and (g) treatment benefits.

The estimated amounts to be paid in the current financial year in respect of the benefits mentioned are as follows:—

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the number of persons insured under the Social Welfare Act, 1952, and the approximate number of dependents of such persons.

The number of persons effectively insured under the Social Welfare Act, 1952, is estimated to be 726,000. The number of dependents of these persons is not known as it is only when an insured person claims benefit that information regarding his or her dependents is obtained.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in respect of a recent date the number of voluntary contributors under the Social Welfare Act, 1952.

The number of voluntary contributors under the Social Welfare Act, 1952, was 1,400 on a recent date.

I give notice that, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to raise the subject-matters of Questions 6, 7, 13, 14, 15 and 21 on the Adjournment.

I shall communicate with the Deputy.