asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any plans to change legislation whereby pensioners in receipt of a British pension, living on their own, would qualify for the living alone allowance.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Legislation.
90.
Persons who are in receipt of social welfare pensions are entitled to an increase in pension if they are aged 66 or over and are living alone. It is not, therefore, a separate payment as it depends in the first instance on a person having entitlement to a basic social welfare pension.
I do not propose to introduce legislation which would have as its purpose the paying of increases of contributory pensions provided under the legislation of other member states. Where, however, a person who is entitled to a pension from another EC member state is also entitled to a pro rata Irish contributory pension under EC regulations or to an old age (non-contributory) pension on the basis of means, a living alone allowance would be payable by virtue of the fact that an Irish pension is being paid, where the basic conditions for the allowance are fulfilled.