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Investment in Qualitywhich highlighted the inadequacy of the lowest rates of payment.By 1994, there was a good deal of convergence in the rates paidacross the different schemes, although differences remained.Between 1997 and 2000, the focus returned to the elderly withpensions for the elderly rising by 15-18 per cent in real terms,whereas the insurance and assistance payments for the unemployedor sick rose by 7 per cent. By 2000, the lowest rate of weeklypayment was 79 per cent of the highest rate of payment, though thegap was less than it had been in 1980. The extent of the changeswithin this period was sufficiently pronounced to produce markedchanges in the position of one group of social welfare recipientversus another over time (Callan and Nolan, 2000:184).In examining the overall level of welfare payments and theirrelationship to increases in other incomes, various measures can beused: gross average industrial earnings (GAIE) as used by the CSO,net average earnings and average household disposable income fromthe Household Budget Surveys. Over the period 1987 to 1994, therates of some social welfare payments rose more rapidly than meanincomes, while for other payments rates increased at a slower pace,although still more than inflation. This resulted in relative povertyrates remaining moderately stable over the period. However, from1994 to 2000, the percentage of persons and households belowrelative poverty lines rose (Table 2.11). This reflected the fact thatthe incomes of those relying on social welfare payments fell behindthe rapid growth in after-tax earnings (Table 2.4).In summary, social welfare payments, while increasing in realterms, have grown more slowly than disposable (after-tax) income,notwithstanding the fact that some social welfare payments haveexceeded the growth of gross manufacturing earnings. This hasresulted in relative income poverty in 2000 being higher than it hadbeen in 1987, while consistent poverty has fallen substantially since1987.Changes in Disposable Income: Tax ProgressivityThere have been significant changes in the tax structure over theperiod since 1987. In 1987, there were three rates of income tax. By120