Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has satisfied himself that additional payment of €5.50 for contributory widows over and above the most basic rate of social welfare payment is sufficient recognition of the contributions to social insurance over many years to obtain widows cover; his views on introducing a supplement on contributory widow's pension where widows do not have secondary sources of income in excess of some specified figure; and the likely cost of such a supplement. [3397/06]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost of extending the free scheme to all widows who do not have an income in excess of €50 per week from secondary sources. [3398/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together.

To qualify for a social insurance payment a person must satisfy contribution conditions which vary from scheme to scheme. In the case of widow's or widower's entitlement to a contributory pension this may be based on the social insurance record of either the widowed person or the late spouse. As few as three years' contributions may be required with an annual average of 39 weeks contributions paid or credited over the three or five tax years, whichever is more beneficial, before reaching pension age or before the spouse died, if earlier. This gives entitlement to a maximum rate pension.

These contribution requirements are one of the least stringent applying to long-term pension schemes. In addition, recipients over 66 years of age receive the same payment as those qualifying for the old age contributory pension, while those under 66 years of age receive more than other welfare recipients. Payment is unaffected by earnings or other income.

The adequacy of payments for widowed people and welfare recipients in general is kept under review and, where appropriate, increases are granted in annual budgets. In budget 2006 widowed people received increases of between €14 and €17 per week or between 9.5% and11%. In certain circumstances, they also have access to a range of other schemes including household benefits. The household benefits package, which comprises the electricity-gas allowance, telephone allowance and television licence schemes, is generally available to people living permanently in the State, aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or satisfy a means test. People aged over 70 years of age can qualify regardless of their income or household composition. Widows and widowers aged from 60 to 65 whose late spouses had been in receipt of the household benefits package retain that entitlement to ensure households do not suffer a loss of entitlements following the death of a spouse.

Information relating to the secondary income of all widows and widowers is not available. Accordingly, it is not possible to estimate the cost of the Deputy's proposal. A range of proposals have been made to extend the coverage of the household benefits package of free schemes. These proposals are kept under review in the context of the objectives of the scheme and budgetary resources.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason the one parent family allowance was refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3460/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1 May 2004. The basis for the restriction contained in the new rules is the applicant's habitual residence. The restriction is not based on citizenship, nationality, immigration status or any other factor. The question of what is a person's habitual residence is decided in accordance with the criteria set out in European Court of Justice case law. Each case received for a determination on the habitual residence condition is dealt with in its own right and a decision is based on application of the guidelines to the particular individual circumstances of each case.

The person concerned made an application for one-parent family payment in November 2005. Her case was referred to the habitual residence unit of my Department for a determination on her habitual residence in the State. A deciding officer has determined that the person concerned did not satisfy the habitual residence condition as she had not resided in the State or common travel area continuously for the past two years or more, has had no stable pattern of employment in the State and does not intend to remain here long term. The person concerned was informed of her right to have her case reviewed by the deciding officer and of her right to appeal the decision within 21 days.