Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 3

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

38 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has any further proposals in relation to the provision of a full contributory pension for many older women who spent long periods out of the workforce on home-caring duties. [26847/01]

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

The Government is committed to extending pension cover to as many categories as possible. In recent years more flexibility has been introduced into the qualifying conditions for the old age contributory pension scheme. Measures introduced include the reduction in 1997 of the average number of PRSI contributions required for pension purposes to ten and the payment of a special half rate pension, introduced in 2000, based on pre-53 insurance contributions. Pro rata pensions are also available for people with mixed insurance contributions. These measures are making it easier for people, particularly women, with reduced or broken insurance records to qualify for a contributory pension.

At present it is estimated that about 86% of women over 65 years of age are receiving a social welfare payment. Of these 90% have a payment in their own right with about 64% of those who have a payment receiving one based on their PRSI record. However, I recognise that more can be done in this area and in August 2000, I launched the report on phase one of the review of the qualifying conditions for the old age contributory and retirement pensions which identified the key issues for qualification conditions. Phase two of the review is, among other things, examining the homemakers' scheme with particular reference to converting the existing system of disregards to credited contributions. It is expected that the phase two report will be finalised shortly. The Government also decided to increase the rate of the qualified adult allowance for those over 66 years of age to the full old age non-contributory pension rate. A major step towards this objective was taken in this year's budget by providing an increase of £15 per week in the full-rate qualified adult allowance. Following consideration of the report of the PPF working group which is currently examining the issues of administrative individualisation, it is hoped that arrangements can be put in place for as many qualified adults as possible to receive their payment directly.