Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will allow persons in receipt of the State transition pension to earn more than €38 per week from employment and still receive the pension, similar to persons in receipt of the State contributory pension who can continue to work beyond the age of 66 and still receive their pension. [30408/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The State pension (transition) was introduced in 1970 when it was known as the retirement pension. It was designed to bridge the gap between the standard social welfare pension age, which at that time was 70 years of age, and retirement at age 65. Because of the purpose for which the scheme was introduced, a key qualifying condition was that a person had to be retired in order to qualify for a payment. Retirement was defined as not engaging in insurable employment, which today means earning less than €38 per week. The social welfare pension age was subsequently reduced in stages until it reached 66 years of age, which means that the retirement condition is now only effective for 1 year.

I consider it important that those who wish to continue in employment after normal retirement age should, as far as is possible, be facilitated and supported. Longer working can play an important role in ensuring that our pensions system is sustainable in the future and it can also be beneficial to the individual. There are additional costs involved in removing the retirement condition but I am keeping the position under review with a view to implementing the change when resources permit.

The retirement condition associated with the state pension (transition) is only one aspect of a much broader agenda which will need to be addressed if we are to create the conditions where people can continue in employment past what we now regard as normal retirement age.

As the House is aware, I published the Green Paper on Pensions on 17th October and this includes an examination of all the issues surrounding retirement age, the barriers faced by older workers who wish to remain in employment and the incentives in this regard which can be considered. A consultation process on the Green Paper is now under way and will remain open until mid 2008. The Government will respond to the process by publishing a framework for future pensions policy and I expect that this will happen towards the end of next year.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when an appeal for retrospective jobseekers benefit will be finalised for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [30347/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, in accordance with the statutory requirements, the papers of the person concerned have been forwarded to my Department for their comments on the grounds of appeal. On receipt of their response the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer for early consideration.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of my Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if in circumstances where businesses collapse and that the proprietors of such businesses are left without an income, they are entitled to credit in respect of social welfare applications; the circumstances in which such assistance or benefit might be paid; the number of such claims that have been made over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30385/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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There is no specific scheme for proprietors of businesses that have collapsed. Such persons may qualify for the jobseeker's allowance which is a means-tested scheme. To qualify for a jobseeker's allowance a person must be unemployed, be under 66 years of age, be capable of and available for work and be genuinely seeking employment.

There are no statistics available on the number of persons on jobseeker's payments who were formerly proprietors of businesses that had collapsed. Self-employed persons, whose overall income is below the rate of payment appropriate to his or her family size, may qualify for a jobseeker's allowance payment while continuing to engage in self-employment. In such circumstances the person's income from self-employment, less businesses expenses, plus any other income from savings, investments or from property will be taken into account in the means test. There are currently some 1,800 self employed persons in receipt of jobseeker's allowance.