Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will identify, in a 12 month period from December 2011 to December 2012, the amount of the Social Welfare Budget that would be made up of payments for old age pensioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24785/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Revised Estimates Volume (REV), 2012, provides for the following expenditure on the pensioner programme operated by my Department.

This expenditure represents over 30% of the total expenditure of my Department.

It should be noted that approximately 30% of recipients of Widows', Widowers'/Surviving Civil Partners' Pension (Contributory) and of Widows', Widowers'/Surviving Civil Partners' Pension (Death Benefit) are aged under pension age (66 years of age).

Some pensioners are also entitled to additional benefits such as Free Travel, Fuel Allowance and the Household Benefits package. It is estimated that approximately €384 million of the €626.5 million in total provided for these schemes in 2012 relates to recipients of the pensioners programme.