Vol. 473 No. 3
164 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proposals, if any, he has to deal with the growing social welfare pensions bill in view of our greying population as forecast by a number of studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24907/96]
189 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to improve the needs of the elderly in society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24954/96]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 164 and 189 together.
As set out in my reply to Questions Nos. 25 and 74 on 27 November 1996, the Department of Social Welfare and the Pensions Board have jointly launched a national pensions policy initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to facilitate a national debate on how to work towards a national pension system consistent with the aim of providing pension benefits which maintain a reasonable relationship with previous income levels so that established standards of living can be maintained.
This initiative will also take account of the two reports published by the Economic and Social Research Institute today on Poverty in Ireland: Evidence from the 1994 Living in Ireland Survey and A Review of the Commission on Social Welfare's Minimum Adequate Income.
This is a very important time for pensions policy. We need to look comprehensively and very carefully, over a relatively short time frame, at the position. We then need to make decisions and, most importantly, to carry those decisions through so that we face up to, and deal with the medium and long-term issues so as to ensure that the living standards of future generations of pensioners are safeguarded.
