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

Question 394: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of women aged 70 years and over who do not have independent means, property or pension; if he is satisfied himself that every effort is being made to provide resources for this cohort of people. [8631/07]

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

According to the Population and Migration Estimates published by the Central Statistics Office in April 2006 there were 189,600 women in Ireland age 70 and over. Information on the means and sources of income of this group is not generally available. However, it is estimated that, in relation to women of pension age generally, about 88% receive support through the social welfare system in their own right or as a qualified adult on the pension of their spouse or partner.

The Government is anxious to ensure that as many people as possible should qualify for pensions in their right. In this regard qualifying conditions for contributory pensions have been eased and special pensions such as the pre-53 payment have been introduced. In the last two budgets a particular emphasis has been placed on the non-contributory pensions with significant improvements in the means test and a higher rate of increase being granted than that given on the contributory side. These improvements are of particular benefit to older women who make up the majority of recipients of non-contributory pensions.

As the House is aware, the Government is preparing a Green Paper on pensions and it is expected that this will be finalised by the end of March and published as soon as possible thereafter. The Green Paper will include a discussion of all aspects of our pension system including the position of people who do not qualify for social welfare pensions. Following the publication of the Green Paper a consultation process will then take place and the Government will respond to this by publishing a framework for future pensions policy.