asked the Minister for Social Welfare the measures, if any, planned to provide for the special needs of widows in Ireland.

The special needs of widows are kept under review by my Department with a view to effecting such improvements as are practicable and feasible within the limit of available resources. It is the stated policy of the Government to maintain the living standards of all social welfare recipients by regular adjustments of the level of payments, at least in line with the cost of living.

Already this year widows' pensions in line with all other social pensions were increased by 16 per cent as from the beginning of last month. In addition the following improvements, details of which were announced at Budget time, were made in the means test for widow's non-contributory pensions: (a) increase from £100 to £200 in the amount of capital not assessed as means, (b) removal of upper age limit for the receipt of widow's non-contributory pension, in line with widow's contributory pension, (c) all unearned income of a widow's children disregarded, (d) dwelling houses and farm buildings discounted for means purposes, (e) commencement of phased removal of anomaly in regard to means limits for reduced rates of pension.

The Green Paper, "A National Income-Related Pensions Scheme" raises the question of income-related widows' pensions. This issue will be considered in the context of proposals in the pensions area generally which are at present under consideration.