Vol. 523 No. 4
181 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will favourably consider the pre-budget submissions he received from a person (details supplied) who represents the self-employed association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21350/00]
Since April 1999 a special old age contributory pension has been available to those self-employed people who were aged 56 or over in April 1988 and who have at least five years contributions paid since then. Payment is at a flat rate of 50% of the standard maximum rate with equivalent increases for adult and child dependants, where applicable. This special arrangement more than complies with this Government's pre-election commitment to ease the position of people who narrowly failed to qualify for a pension and represents a positive and reasonable response to the situation in which this group of people found themselves. I have no plans to make further changes.
