asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will increase the widow's pension to the level of the old age pension, with all the other benefits such as free light and fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Any proposals for increases in social welfare payments or for other improvements in the schemes administered by my Department are matters for consideration in connection with the budget.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that widows should have the same facilities and fringe benefits as old age non-contributory pensioners?

As the Deputy is aware, on many occasions I have expressed my desire for considerable improvements in many areas of social welfare. During the past three-and-a-half years that view has been put into practice in many areas.

Can we take it that something will be done about this matter this year?

The Deputy would be very foolish to take that from my reply. My reply was that any improvement in the social welfare code would be a matter for the budget. The Deputy will appreciate that I could not anticipate the budget.

The Parliamentary Secretary must have some knowledge in regard to his recommendations for social welfare increases in the forthcoming budget?

I have expressed my views publicly on many occasions. What I recommend or do not recommend is of little interest to widows. The final outcome would be of interest to them. What I am suggesting is that it would not be possible for me at this stage to anticipate a forthcoming budget.

After the Parliamentary Secretary's reference to the past three-and-a-half years, is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that present payments of social welfare under practically every head are in real terms lower than they were when the Parliamentary Secretary came into office? If the Parliamentary Secretary is not aware, why is he not aware, because it is his job to know that?

I am not aware of it and the reason that I am not aware of it is that it is not a factual statement and I do not confuse my mind as the Deputy would appear to do by entertaining inaccurate statements.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary care to be supplied with the figures to prove it from his own side?

Not only do we not want to be supplied with figures but I am prepared now to give the Deputy the factual situation with regard to social welfare. In 1973 when this Government took over from Fianna Fáil the condition of social welfare recipients was to say the least pitiful. The increase in the cost of living which was disclosed in this House by a parliamentary question to the Taoiseach showed an increase of 75 per cent over the three-and-a-half years and the lowest increase in social welfare payments during that period was 105 per cent. I am aware that not alone is the Deputy confused about what I have stated but other commentators also appear not to have done very simple arithmetic to establish the factual situation.

In view of the Parliamentary Secretary's obvious lack of knowledge of the basic concern he should have in his job, would the Parliamentary Secretary be prepared to arrange a procedure through the Whips whereby this matter can be gone into in detail in this House and we can take every item of social welfare, take its value when the Parliamentary Secretary came into office and calculate its real value now on the basis of figures given in reply to a parliamentary question and see how it compares with the situation when Fianna Fáil were in office?

I would be more than happy to discuss this matter publicly with the Deputy in any venue that he cares to arrange.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary accept this venue —the place where the Parliamentary Secretary is responsible?

Yes, but I do not accept it as my responsibility to do the Deputy's work as a Member of the Opposition. If the Deputy wants time in the House, it is for him through his Whip to take the initiative. From my experience over the last three-and-a-half years I know that Fianna Fáil have very little knowledge not only of how to be a Government but of how to be a responsible Opposition. I do not intend to take on the burden of what the Deputy is apparently not able to cope with.

In view of the Parliamentary Secretary's understandable reluctance to oblige me with the request I made, may I give notice that I desire to raise this subject matter on the Adjournment?

I will communicate with the Deputy.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the cost of living increases in the cases of social welfare beneficiaries are much higher than the average cost of living increases?

No, I would not agree that they are much higher. I accept that the cost of living index does not fully reflect the average purchasing of a social welfare recipient and I accept that there would be some margin in respect of that but the fact remains that the cost of living index has gone up by 75 per cent and the lowest social welfare recipient by 105 per cent. They are indisputable facts.

Order. There is a remaining question. Does the House wish to deal with it?

In view of the fact that the Parliamentary Secretary has only one more question, will the Ceann Comhairle allow him to answer?

Certainly.