Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 533: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his proposals to bring the qualified adult rate of contributory old age retirement pension in line with the top rate of non-contributory old age pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34277/04]

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 545: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost of granting persons who are now classified as qualified adult dependants, a full old age pension in their own right (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1315/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 533 and 545 together.

The Government committed itself in the programme for Government and Sustaining Progress to increasing the pension payment for qualified adults aged 66 or over to the same level as the personal rate of the old age non-contributory pension. The estimated cost of this commitment is €44 million. Considerable progress has already been made in this regard — the qualified adult allowance for the contributory payment stands at €138.50, or 83% of the maximum rate of old age non-contributory pension, which is €166 per week. Overall increases in the qualified adult allowance for the old age contributory pension amount to €56.47 per week since April 2000. The qualified adult allowance for the old age non-contributory pension has increased by €44.05 per week in the same time. It now stands at 66% of the full personal rate.

Since October 2002, new pension claimants have been able to opt to have the allowance paid directly to their spouse or partner, in accordance with the conclusions of a PPF working group on administrative individualisation. Further progress towards Government targets in respect of the qualified adult allowance rate will be made in future budgets.