Would the Minister accept that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul suggested recently that a substantial number of the former middle income group persons are applying for these reliefs and benefits? Will he accept that that is the situation on the ground today?

Certainly I am aware of the number of middle income families who have had to avail of SWA payments to meet their basic needs, but overwhelmingly persons of very low income are the persons who are assessed and in need of the payments. However, there is a proportion of middle income families where the breadwinner has become unemployed and there might be, for example, very substantial mortgage payments. That situation can arise and it can be a matter of dire poverty for those families.

Let me put it to the Minister that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are quite adamant about the substantial increase in numbers in the middle income group who now find themselves in this kind of difficulties. Will the Minister take steps to get some accurate figures on that problem?

I do not dispute that there has been a relative increase but the proportions are somewhat the same. Still predominant are persons who are unemployed in particular and persons who, for example, are suffering from chronic illness and so on who need these exceptional payments. In the Eastern Health Board area alone over £20 million is being paid out.