THE Estimate for the Department of Social Welfare for 1997 totals £2,619,708,000 - a 1 per cent increase on this year's figure of £2,606,555,000. There is a major increase in employment support services at £81,500,000 - a 31 per cent increase on the 1996 figure of £62,400,000.
One parent family payments also show a big jump on this year's estimate. A total of £263,300,000 has been budgeted for this sector a 21 per cent increase on the 1996 figure of £218,000,000.
The carer's allowance, which has always been criticised as being inadequate, has been given a 25 per cent increase - from £27,100,000 to £33,800,000. This is something the Minister ford Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, has expressed a great interest in during the past year and he was anxious to improve the lot of carers.
There is also good news in the area of disability. The disability allowance allocation has gone up from £118,100,000 to £134,700,000 (a 14 per cent increase).
On the minus side, there is a 31 per cent reduction in payment to the social insurance fund, down from £81,900,000 to £56,500,000. Administration is down by 2 per cent - £134,948,000 to £132,336,000.