Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

1382 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 114 of 20 May 2003, if she will consider introducing an allowance on long-term leasing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21007/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

The reply to the parliamentary question to which the Deputy refers outlines the means testing arrangements which apply where a landholder leases land or is otherwise in possession of land which is lying fallow or idle.

Income from the leasing of land is assessable as means for old age pension purposes, whether in practice the land is leased or is allowed to lie idle. There are no plans to introduce an additional allowance in the means test to encourage leasing. Any such change would have budget ary implications and would have to be considered in the context of other expenditure priorities.

Question No. 1383 answered with Question No. 1341. Question No. 1384 answered with Question No. 1372.