Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to increase the amount allowed to be earned by a dependant of an old age contributory pensioner in the budget for 2005. [26251/05]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his proposals to review the amount allowed to be earned by a dependant of an old age contributory pensioner, which amount has not been reviewed for a number of years. [26333/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 355 together.

For the purposes of that pension and 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's or partner's income is less than €88.89 per week, 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 the budget for 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.