The full personal rate of old age and related pensions will go up by €10 per week. This will bring the old age contributory pension to €157.30 per week and the old age non-contributory pension to €144 per week. In the programme for Government we undertook to improve the living standard of our older citizens by increasing the State pension to €200. Today's increase is a first step in delivering on that promise. In the last two years we have succeeded in narrowing the gap between the widow's and widower's contributory pension and the old age contributory pension. Further progress is being made today with a special increase in the widow's and widower's contributory pension. Next year, the weekly rate will rise by €11, bringing the general payment rate for those aged 66 and over to €155.80 and to €162.20 for those aged 80 or over.