P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to increase the rate of the living alone allowance paid to pensioners; the increases that have occurred in this allowance in every year since 1995 to date in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23833/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, 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. In 1995, it was paid at the rate of £4.90 (€6.22) per week. This was increased to £6.00 (€7.62) per week in 1996 and rounded up to €7.70 per week in 2002 following the introduction of the Euro.

The priority in relation to support for pensioners has been, for many years, to increase the personal rates of pension rather than supplements like the living alone increase. The objective is to use resources to improve the position of all pensioners to the fullest extent possible rather than focusing on particular groups. This approach was continued in Budget 2007 with increases of up to €16 and €18 per week granted on personal rates.