asked the Minister for Social Welfare (a) the gross expenditure on Social welfare for each year since 1957 including the estimated figure for the current year; and (b) the cost of administration of the social welfare services for each year since 1957 including the estimated cost for the current year.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Cheann Comhairle to circulate it with the Official Report.

Following is the statement: