Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will review the guidelines in relation to what his Department considers as means (details supplied). [28089/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The State pension (non-contributory) is a social assistance scheme and, in common with all other such schemes, features a means test. In assessing eligibility for social assistance payments, the means test is based on household income. This is to ensure that resources committed to social assistance payments are used to provide support and improve the position of those who are most in need.

The effectiveness of the means testing arrangements is kept under review and in this context, the new enhanced State pension (non-contributory) introduced in September 2006 features significant improvements in the means test. When the new scheme was introduced, the basic means disregard increased from €7.60 per week to €20 per week, benefiting some 34,000 pensioners on reduced rates. The means disregard was further increased to €30 per week in Budget 2007 resulting in increased payments for some 26,000 pensioners.

The improved disregards are of particular benefit to those without a contributory pension entitlement who are receiving pensions from other jurisdictions. In this regard, there are about 11,400 British Retirement Pensioners in receipt of State pension (non-contributory) with some 2,250 of these qualifying for the maximum rate. Means testing arrangements will be kept under review and changes considered where appropriate.