John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will provide a progress report on the better supports for older people as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32264/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The 'Better Supports for Older People' commitments contained in the Programme for Government consist of a range of measures spanning several Government departments including the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Education and Science as well as the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Where my Department is concerned, the Programme for Government features a number of commitments in relation to social welfare pensions. These include the commitment to increase the basic State pension to €300 per week by 2012. The Government has also committed to completing the process begun in Budget 2007 to bring payments to qualified adults up to the level of the State pension (non-contributory) over a period of three years.

The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to extend payment of the over 80 allowance to qualified adults. When implemented, this will benefit some 4,500 people who are receiving support as qualified adults on the pension of their spouse or partner. This measure will be addressed over the lifetime of the Government.

Further reforms and improvements designed to achieve Government targets in the area of pensioners' income will be considered in the context of the Green Paper on Pensions, published on the 17th October. The Green Paper sets out challenges for pensions in the future and identifies options for addressing these issues in the future.

A major consultation process in relation to future pensions policy is now underway. Following the completion of the consultation process, the Government will develop a framework for future pensions policy.