Vol. 401 No. 1
13 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has initiated the promised survey into the number of retired persons with between five and 19 Class A1 contributions who would qualify for a pro-rata pension; and the cost involved in extending pro-rata entitlements to this group.
Work on the survey to estimate the numbers of retired persons with a mixture of full and modified rate contributions who would benefit from the introduction of pro-rata retirement and old age pensions is well under way in my Department. The survey is necessary in order to assess the cost implications of different options for extending pro-rata pensions to this group. I estimate that the survey and subsequent data analysis will be completed by September.
Will the Minister make that information available to the pensions board who are considering this matter and to all Opposition spokespersons? We are very interested in progress here.
The information will be made available to the pensions board and I have no objection, to making at least a summary available to Deputies.
