asked the Minister for Social Welfare the social surveys that have been undertaken by his Department in the last three years.

18.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if any survey has been undertaken by his Department on the number of people living below subsistence level in Ireland.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 17 and 18 together.

A number of surveys have been undertaken in the last three years by the National Committee on Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty. The surveys were designed to provide basic information about less well-off sections of the community as well as the services which provide for their needs.

In addition, I have approved a grant by the committee to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for a national survey of old persons living alone. A complementary study on the elderly is being carried out by the Economic and Social Research Institute and I also propose making a grant to the Institute towards the cost of their survey.

The surveys I have mentioned are part of a continuing programme in the field of poverty and are in various stages of completion.

Would the Minister be in a position to say if a survey is being undertaken into the number of people living below subsistence level in Ireland? That is the specific query in question No. 18.

That would come mainly under the survey which would be carried out by the Economic and Social Research Institute.

Would the Minister be able to give a figure as to the number of people living below subsistence level in Ireland?

I am sure I will. Certainly I will have a lot more, particularly when the Economic and Social Research Institute report is completed. On the other hand, I am very interested also in the St. Vincent de Paul survey because I would hope that would answer questions which cannot be quantified strictly in statistical terms.

But it is a specific one related only to the problem of the aged.

People living alone.

Whereas I am speaking generally of people living below subsistence level: could we have some figure as to how many there are in Ireland today?

I will see what we can get on that.

Would the Minister let me know.

Yes, and if I do not, the Deputy can return to the attack with another question in due course.