Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

Some 83% of women receive social welfare support in some form. Some 19,000 are supported as qualified adults on the pension of their spouses or partners. Approximately 90% of those receiving support have a payment in their own right. Many of these women receive widow's payments. At the end of January 2004, 32% of those in receipt of either an old age contributory or retirement pension were women. Some 63% of people receiving old age contributory pensions are men with 37% being women. It is interesting to compare this figure with those on non-contributory pensions where 58% of those receiving non-contributory pensions are women with 42% being men. It is clear that women mainly receive non-contributory pensions and men mainly receive contributory pensions. This shows vulnerability, on which matter I will return to the House with some thoughts as soon as I have the opportunity.

It is still Government policy to bring the qualified adult allowance up to 70% of the non-contributory pension. It is our intention to move towards that position over a number of budgets.

I have discussed the issue of family members and PRSI with representatives of the IFA. Obviously the Deputy meets the same people I meet. We explained to them the partnership and company requirement etc. I am familiar with the issue and they are familiar with our response, which is that we will examine the issue with a view to responding. I assure the Deputy that the issues he has raised are on our agenda.

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