asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the present system of social welfare payments with a view to adopting a system whereby the difference between the levels paid to single and married couples will be paid directly to the wife.

The system of social welfare payments is based on payment being made to the person who is legally entitled to it, whether or not the payment includes an amount in respect of a dependant or dependants. Where a payment includes such an amount, there is power under regulations to enable payment of that amount to be made to some person other than the payee where it appears to the Minister that the circumstances so warrant. These powers are exercised to ensure that in such cases as family dissension or neglect, the amount payable in respect of the wife and children, if there are any, is paid to her directly. I am satisfied that these powers are sufficient to meet all deserving cases and I can see no reason to change the system in general.

Is the Minister aware that there is a lot of hardship in this area where husbands do not hand up the amount? Is he aware that there is a long delay in any form of processing when one contacts the Department to have this payment made directly to a wife? It is in the best interest of a household that this sum be paid directly to a wife and I am sure the Minister agrees.

I am not convinced that that case has been fully established. To some extent the Deputy is asking that a wholesale change be made, which might be disadvantageous, to cope with a relatively minor number of isolated cases.

If the Minister says that only a few cases are involved I must tell him that he is not in touch.

There are more cases than we would like.

Is the Minister aware that the National Social Services Council in the course of a report about this said the problem was widespread?

I am not sure about that but I am examining the case they put forward.