Richard Bruton
Ceist:455 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will extend the pro rata pension concession to widows pensions; and if pre-1953 contributions will be reckonable. [7992/99]
Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.
It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the widow's or widower's contributory pension scheme and the possibility of introducing a pro rata pension similar in structure to its old age contributory pension counterpart.
The qualifying conditions for the widow's or widower's contributory pension are more flexible than those for, say, the old age contributory pension. For instance, a person's entitlement is based on either the full social insurance record or the record over the previous three or five years to satisfy the yearly average condition. A widow or widower may qualify on either his-her own or late spouse's insurance records; in addition, social insurance contributions paid or credited under the National Health Insurance Acts since 1936 may be used to satisfy the requirement that 156 contributions are paid.
On that basis, I have no plans, at present, to introduce such a scheme which, as the Deputy will appreciate, would have to be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available resources.