James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 338: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost to the insurance fund of the improvements in the earnings limit from May 2007 for recipients of deserted wife's benefit who applied after 31 August 1992; if he will increase the threshold in Budget 2008 or abolish it in order to treat all recipients of deserted wife's benefit equally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29528/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated cost of the 2007 budget increase in the earnings limit for recipients of deserted wife's benefit (DWB) was €1.54 million for a full year. For those who first claimed DWB after 31st August 1992, the increase now allows for the retention of full-rate deserted wife's benefit with earnings of up to €20,000 per annum. This would entitle a recipient earning €20,000 to an annual personal rate of DWB amounting to almost €10,000 in addition to their earnings. Any change to the current earnings limit would have to be considered in a budgetary context.