Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will take steps to increase the living alone allowance as same has not been increased for a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41852/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The living alone increase is an additional payment of €7.70 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. It is also available to people who are under 66 years of age who are living alone and who receive payments under one of a number of invalidity type schemes. The increase is intended as a contribution towards the additional costs people face when they live alone.

The policy in relation to support for pensioners has been, for many years, to give priority to increasing the personal rates of pension, as demonstrated in significant increases. Rather than focusing on payments such as the living alone increase. This approach ensures that resources are used to improve the position of all pensioners and is subject to regular review. That review did take place this year as usual and it was decided to continue with the policy of a significant increase in the personal rate.