Vol. 462 No. 5
205 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social Welfare if old age pensioners who are in receipt of old age pensions from the United Kingdom can apply for additional payments to his Department in view of their reduced income due to a fall in the value of sterling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4861/96]
207 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Welfare what plans, if any, he has to ensure that pensioners receiving their pensions from the United Kingdom in sterling receive the full amount due to them and do not suffer from exchange rate losses. [4907/96]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 205 and 207 together.
Exchange rates can fluctuate frequently. In view of this and the fact that a considerable number of Irish non-contributory pensioners are in receipt of British pensions, it would not be practicable to re-assess entitlement to old age non-contributory pension each time currency exchange rates move. A realistic approach for resolving this problem has therefore been adopted by my Department. When calculating means based upon EU pensions, the Department employs an exchange rate mechanism which is used within the EU in relation to certain social security transactions between member states.
Any person in receipt of a United Kingdom retirement pension whose means have changed as a result of the change in value of sterling may be entitled to an old age non-contributory pension from my Department provided their means do not exceed IR£66 per week. A United Kingdom pensioner who is already in receipt of an old age non-contributory pension and whose means have reduced as a result is entitled to request a review of his or her means assessment by the DSS UK at any time.
