Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has received correspondence from persons (details supplied) in County Roscommon; if the amount allowed to be earned by a dependant of an old age contributory pensioner will be increased significantly from the current amount of €88.88; if same will be increased in budget 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26099/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I have received the correspondence referred to by Deputy Penrose relating to entitlement to payment of a full increase in respect of a qualified adult for the purposes of old age contributory pension. For the purposes of most other social welfare payments, entitlement to an increase for a qualified adult is based on the income of the spouse or partner. A qualified adult increase at the maximum rate is payable where the spouse-partner's income is €88.88 per week or less and tapered reduced rates are payable where income is less than €220 per week. The lower threshold was last increased in budget 2000 while the upper threshold has been increased in each successive budget since then, from £135 in 2000 to €220 in budget 2005. Any change in the current arrangements relating to entitlement to qualified adult allowances would have to be considered in a budgetary context and in the light of available resources.