asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a restraint on Government expenditure on social welfare is being considered.

: The allocation of Exchequer resources in respect of social welfare is a matter for consideration in the context of the annual estimates and the budget.

: Is the Minister aware of a suggestion that the Government are considering restraint in the area of social welfare?

: Is the Deputy telling me what the Government are considering?

: Is the Minister aware of the suggestion that the Government are considering restraint in the area of social welfare?

: I am not aware of any such suggestion.

: Is the Minister not aware that his colleague, the Minister for Economic Planning and Development, is on public record in the past month as having suggested that the Government were considering restraint in the areas of health, social welfare, housing and education, those being designated as non job-producing areas?

: I am not aware of any such reference by the Minister for Economic Planning and Development. The Deputy will appreciate that part of the functions of that Minister is to carry out continually studies in all the areas and to make recommendations for improvements. The Deputy will also understand that in some of the social welfare schemes there are frequently publicly expressed suggestions that there is waste and abuse, and these also have to be looked into.

: Is the Minister suggesting that restraint in social welfare might represent improvement?

: I am not prepared to accept any suggestion that anybody is restricting social welfare.

: The Minister had better talk to the Minister for Economic Planning and Development.

: Is the Minister not aware that on page 64 of the White Paper National Development 1977-1980 it is stated quite clearly that it would be the Government's intention to restrain expenditure in areas such as social welfare? There has also been definite mention of social welfare by the Minister for Economic Planning and Development in an interview he gave to Magill. Is the Minister also aware that the Taoiseach made a speech last week, which was reported on page 5 of the Government Information press release, in which he referred to cutbacks in expenditure in areas such as social welfare? Is the Minister further aware that the Green Paper which, according to the Minister for Economic Planning and Development, will be produced next month, will contain a further indication that social welfare expenditure is to be reduced by the Minister?

: When our plans for the reduction of unemployment come into operation that in itself will effect a considerable reduction in the bill for social welfare in so far as unemployment benefit and similar benefits are concerned. Maybe that is what is confusing the Deputy.

: That is not confusion.

: To a considerable extent the bill for social welfare has been greatly increased in recent years because of high unemployment figures brought about by the Coalition's mismanagement of our economy.

: The Minister should stand on his own two feet.

: I am standing on my own two feet.

: Any improvement we can bring about in the employment situation will ipso facto bring about a reduction in the overall bill for social welfare. Maybe that is what the Deputy is worrying about.

: There is not much point in the Minister trying to confuse the facts.

: A question, Deputy.

: He has neither the political muscle nor the social concern to ensure a proper allocation for his Department in the scandal that is going on at the moment.

: I do not think any Deputy in this House can point to any shortage of funds for the administration of the schemes of my Department this year. I have already indicated that the allocation of funds for my Department next year will be properly considered at the appropriate time by the Government. I have no worries on that score.

: Is the Minister repudiating the Taoiseach and his colleagues in Government in the statements made in the White Paper and in other public statements?

: If the Deputy is trying to stir up trouble between me and my Taoiseach he will not succeed.