Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the regularity with which payments from England are reviewed in view of fluctuating exchange rates (details supplied). [19425/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Pensioners who are in receipt of a retirement pension from the UK and who reside permanently in the Republic of Ireland may also qualify for a State Pension (Non Contributory) payment subject to satisfying a means test. Changes in the value of a British pension, due to currency fluctuation, may well be offset by annual increases received since entitlement was last reviewed and consequently the customer's State Pension (Non Contributory) payment may be unchanged or even reduced as a result of a review. In general, such payments are reviewed every four years to take account of annual increases in the rate of the British pension payment. Claims are not reviewed specifically because of movements in exchange rates. However, it is open to pensioners who believe, they may be entitled to an increase in the rate of their State Pension (Non Contributory) payment to seek to have their means reviewed.