Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and her officials and thank the Minister for her presentation. I add my congratulations to the hardworking staff in the Department on the work they have been doing, particularly in respect of backlogs. There is still some work to be completed but much good work has been done and I acknowledge that.

There has been much discussion about the potential burden that pensions will place on the Exchequer and on society in the years to come due to the demographics. I note the projected increase in expenditure on pensions from last year to this year is very slight at less than 1%, but I presume that will change as the years pass. Nevertheless, it represents one third of social protection expenditure, which is a significant proportion. From 1 January last, a person who reaches 65 years of age this year will no longer be able to apply for a transition pension. What does the Department expect to save? Whatever the gross saving might be, I contend that the net saving will be far less. If somebody turns 65 and does not have a job and cannot get the transition pension, obviously they will have to access some other social welfare payment. I expect that accounts for the great majority of them.

In the summer legislative programme there is further proposed legislation on pensions. Will the Minister give us an idea of what she has in mind for that? I was not aware that we would be dealing with further legislation on pensions in this session, so perhaps she will give an indication of what is intended in that regard.