asked the Minister for Finance if he will take steps to provide that, in addition to the £5 gratuity to people who reach the age of one hundred years, a similar sum will be made available for each birthday on which they exceed the century.

As the £5 gratuity is merely a gift accompanying the congratulatory message to a person reaching the century, it would be inappropriate to pay it in subsequent years.

It would be too heavy on the State.