Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

The needs of older people have been a priority for this Government since taking office in 1997. Since then we have delivered record increases in pensions. Pensions increased by 81% up to January this year, 50% ahead of the increase in the consumer price index over the same period. The household benefits scheme is now available to all those over 70 years of age regardless of their income or household composition, and a range of other measures, including easing of qualifying conditions for pensions to enable more people to qualify for contributory payments, have been introduced.

As I indicated at the publication of the 2006 Estimates, older people are a priority for my social reform agenda. The main aims of this agenda are to deliver a decent pension for all our workers, to offer choices on how older people want to spend their later years and to ensure older people have adequate income. In a social welfare context, the Government has already made a number of commitments to pensions and other matters and I will be working to see the targets in this regard are met over the next two budgets. Chief among these commitments is a target rate of €200 per week for pensions to be reached by 2007.

Significant increases in qualified adult allowances have also been given in recent years and the aim in this regard is to bring these into line with the personal rate of the old age non-contributory pension. Qualified adult allowance rates for those over 66 are now between 66% and 77% of maximum personal rates compared with between 60% and 67% in 2000. Allowances on invalidity pensions have also been brought up to the level of other contributory pensioner rates.

One of my priorities is to offer choices to older people on how to spend their later years and I am anxious to ensure the social welfare system does not limit the choices people can make. In this regard, I am examining the different pension schemes to see to what extent we can facilitate more choice for people.

Occupational pensions are an important part of our overall pension system and, as the House will be aware, I have recently received the report on the national pensions review from the Pensions Board. This is a large and complex document which will need to be fully studied by the Government, and when this is finalised, arrangements will be made to publish the report. I hope it will engender a national debate on our pensions system which will assist us in determining the most appropriate and effective way of delivering a level of income to older people which will allow them to enjoy a long and active retirement.

See this speech in context