asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will provide for all single women who have to stay at home, or leave their employment to look after aged or sick parents or relatives an allowance on par with that paid to widows, deserted wives, and so on, in addition to a credited class 1 insurance stamp to ensure that they are in benefit when re-entering employment or on reaching pensionable age.

Under present arrangements, where an incapacitated person aged 66 or over is receiving full-time care and attention from a prescribed relative, an increase of pension or benefit may be payable to that person. In such cases also the prescribed relative, if previously insured, may be awarded credited contributions to ensure continuity of insurance coverage. Alternatively from age 58 a single woman may, if she satisfies a means test, qualify for social assistance allowance which may be paid until attainment of pensionable age. These provisions are reviewed from time to time but no change is at present contemplated.

Did the Minister say that they may qualify for a stamp?

They do.

They do qualify.

Might I ask the Minister if that fact is widely known?

I could not say.

That is the point. Could the Minister tell me in what document details of this are available?

Is it the stamp aspect to which the Deputy is referring?

Yes. The Minister might consider making the fact that they can obtain this credit more widely known.

Is the Deputy suggesting that there is some widespread lack of understanding of the situation?

Yes.

I was not aware of that.

The Minister mentioned something about increases for an old person in respect of somebody staying at home. Are they meant to pay for the stamp? Is it the idea that the old person pays for the stamp?

No. If the prescribed relative was previously insured he or she may be awarded credited contributions to ensure continuity.