Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he will extend the age allowance to qualified adults over 80 years of age. [32195/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government features a number of commitments in relation to social welfare pensions. These include the commitment to pay the over 80 allowance in respect of the qualified adult portion of the pension. The allowance was increased in 2006 to its present level of €10 per week. There are approximately 4,500 qualified adults of contributory pensioners aged over 80 years. Extending the over 80 allowance to this group will cost in the region of €2.4 million per annum. This measure will be addressed over the lifetime of the Government.