Seán Ryan
Ceist:82 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance his views on pre-funding of pension provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19498/98]
Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.
In Securing Retirement Income, its report on the national pensions policy initiative published in May 1998, the Pensions Board recommended the establishment of an explicit mechanism to fund, at least partially, the prospective substantial growth in the cost of social welfare old age pensions. In welcoming the report, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs indicated that the Government considered that this recommendation deserved full consideration. To that end, a working group with representatives from the Departments of Finance, Social, Community and Family Affairs, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Pensions Board was established and is currently giving detailed consideration to the matter. Naturally, I will await the conclusions of the working group before forming a definitive view on this complex and important question.