Batt O'Keeffe
Question:464 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends to make an early retirement option available for workers on gas platforms and oil rigs and for fishermen. [19234/95]
Written Answers. - Pension Age Reduction.
A retirement pension is payable at age 65 while an old age (contributory) pension is payable at age 66 subject, of course, to the fulfilment of the normal statutory conditions. The cost of reducing the pension age by one year is estimated to be in the order of £30 million in a full year. Any reduction in the pension age of old age contributory or retirement pensions or the creation of an early retirement option would have major financial implications and I have no plans, at present either to lower the age generally or to bring in special early retirement provisions for the categories mentioned by the Deputy or for any other category of worker.