asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons receiving disability benefit, invalidity pensions, marriage grants, maternity allowances, maternity grants, and retirement pensions in each of the last three years.

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

Following is the statement:

(a)numbers receiving disability benefit, maternity allowance, invalidity pension and retirement pension each week, and

(b)number of marriage and maternity grants paid.

*These pensions were introduced for the first time on 1st October, 1970.

29.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of women receiving deserted wives allowances in each of the last three years; and the number of dependent children in each year.

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

Following is the statement:

STATEMENT showing the number of women receiving deserted wife's allowance and the number of dependent children.

*The scheme commenced on 1st October, 1970.

Is the Minister aware that a great many husbands in England are obtaining divorces and that their wives are then cut off the deserted wife allowance in this country on the grounds that they are no longer married women, which is contrary to social practice and to our constitutional position and is a cause of hardship?

That is a separate question and one that I have answered here on several occasions. We have not reached any final decision on the matter. It is very much a legal question.

30.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount contributed to the social insurance fund each year since 1960 by employees, employers and the State.

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

Following is the statement:

31.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason why a person in County Galway (name supplied) who applied for unemployed benefit 14 weeks ago has not yet got a decision on his claim; and the reason for the delay.

The claim referred to was made on the 20th April last and was disallowed by a deciding officer on the 10th July just before I received the Deputy's question. The decision is being notified to the claimant who is also being informed of his right of appeal. The delay in deciding the claim arose because special investigation was necessary to determine whether, for the purpose of unemployment benefit, the claimant satisfied the provisions of the Social Welfare Acts and regulations relevant to his case. The person is eligible for unemployment assistance and payment accordingly has been authorised.

32.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend unemployment assistance to all parts of County Cork deemed to be within the 12 western counties.

The Deputy is aware, from my answers to his similar questions on 2nd June, 1971, and 3rd June, 1970, of my attitude to extension of the areas specified for the purposes of the Unemployment Assistance Acts. I have made known to the Deputy on several occasions in the House that I am prepared to discuss the matter with him.

I should perhaps add that any extension of the areas could be done only by order of the Government following consideration by all Departments concerned.

Is the Minister not aware that I have made repeated representations to have that part of County Cork which is deemed to be part of the 12 western counties included within the terms of the regulations granting unemployment assistance to farmers on a land valuation basis? Surely the Minister agrees that it is quite unfair that substantial numbers should have been cut off as a result of the Minister's inactivity? Will he not agree that I provided him with maps on two occasions indicating the boundaries as defined by the county development team? The Minister promised to see to this matter. He has dilly-dallied. I want something straight from the Minister on this occasion. I am not implying that he is other than straight.

As I said in the reply, we are prepared to discuss this matter further. The map was given to me by the Deputy only a few days ago.

That was the second edition. I gave another one 12 months ago. Will the Minister have a talk with me on the matter?

We will have a "get-together".

You, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, are a witness to this. You may be called upon to give evidence later.

33.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if there are any proposals to relate future increases in social welfare benefits to the consumer price index.

The increases in social welfare benefits in past years have far exceeded the rise in the consumer price index in the same period and I do not propose to restrict the scope of future increases by tying them to rises in the consumer price index.