Social Welfare Bill 1999 Second Stage
Sitting Time
Sitting Date
20:40
2 March 1999
Text:
Mr.
Kelleher: I am delighted to welcome
the provisions and broad thrust of the Social
Welfare Bill. Looking back over
the history of Social Welfare Bills, it can be said that
this is a caring Bill which recognises the needs in society
and is moving towards assisting those most in need. When we came into Government, we
gave a commitment that we would look after the elderly, something
which must be broadly welcomed in the House.
All sides will
recognise that major changes and advancements have been made in relation
to the medical card. The most important provision is the acknowledgement
that pensioners were too far behind other social welfare payments and
major steps have been made to rectify that with the £6 per week increase.
This is an issue which many people have raised with me. Deputy Haughey
referred to adult dependants and the fact that £6 is paid to the person
in receipt of the pension while the qualified adult dependant, who
more than likely is the spouse of the pensioner, receives 50 per cent
of that. That is something
about which many people are annoyed. It
sometimes seems as if the Department is trying to pull a fast one on them
in the way this is paid and explained. The Department should examine the
question of the qualified adult dependant allowance paid on a pensioner's
book.
This budget
has been very positive as regards the elderly, an issue we will have to
consider in the future, given the demographic changes. Although we
have a young vibrant population, demographic trends suggest there will be
a large number of elderly people living here by 2025. That is something
we must acknowledge now and to which we must direct the Department of
Social, Community and Family Affairs.