Jack Wall
Question:82 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of women currently signing for credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29698/00]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
A person, to be entitled to the award of credited contributions, must be unemployed, available for, and capable of but unable to obtain suitable employment. The majority of people signing on the live register for credited contributions are women, usually in circumstances where the income of their spouse or partner is of such a level that they are not entitled to an unemployment assistance payment themselves.
The number of women signing for credits over the past three years is as follows.
|
November 1998 |
November 1999 |
November 2000 |
|
13,052 |
11,519 |
9,633 |
Persons under the age of 55 sign for credits once a month, persons over the age of 55 sign once every three months. If a customer over the age of 55 considers that she or he has retired from the workplace it is open to him or her to apply for pre-retirement credits. This means that she or he will be required to sign a declaration only once a year.
I am satisfied with the arrangements in place for persons who sign the unemployed register for credited contributions.