Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 2

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Ivan Yates

Question:

141 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will consider increasing the special partial old age contributory pension for self-employed persons who are receiving the half rate pension; and if he will review this matter and progressively bring them in line with other pensioners, in view of the diminishing numbers and cost involved. [2798/01]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

142 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the proposals he has to increase payment to those persons in receipt of the special partial old age contributory pension for self-employed persons above the normal budgetary increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2645/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.

A special old age contributory pension was introduced by me in April 1999 for those self employed people who were aged 56 or over in April 1988 when compulsory social insurance was introduced for this group. The pension is paid to those 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. Similar pensions are paid to people whose claim is based on pre-1953 insurance, introduced in the 2000 budget. The current personal rate is £48 per week and this will increase to £53 in April 2001. There are almost 4,150 people in receipt of this special pension and it is not anticipated that there will be any great change in the number of recipients, at least in the short-term.

In our Action Programme for the Millennium the Government committed itself to implementing a positive and reasonable response to the situation in which this group of people found themselves. Any proposed changes would have to be considered in a budgetary context.