asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of invalidity pensions withdrawn from recipients for the years 1986-1987.

Invalidity pensions may be withdrawn from recipients for a variety of reasons most of which are voluntary on the claimants' part. 3,344 pensions were withdrawn in 1986 and 2,837 in the first ten months of this year. The vast majority of these arose on transfer to old age pension where the rates are higher or on the death of the pensioner. In 15 cases in 1986 and 38 this year entitlements were withdrawn because the claimant was found to be capable of work, to be working or to have ceased to claim pension.

Is there any way that a person who is ill, almost on a permanent basis, and does not have contributions to qualify for disability benefit can qualify for invalidity pension?

The Deputy will be aware that this benefit is paid under the social insurance fund and, consequently, is covered under the contribution conditions relating to the fund. There is no disability assistance scheme. A number of countries have introduced such a scheme in preference to long term disability like we have. This is something that will have to be examined in the future.

Is the Minister aware that the people I am referring to have to exist on supplementary welfare allowances until they reach old age pension age as a result of the absence of such a scheme? Does the Minister propose to introduce a disability assistance scheme?

Proposals of this type, as the Deputy will be aware, have financial implications and will be considered in the context of the budget.

Will the Minister accept that the invalidity pension is the only contributory pension that does not have a parallel non-contributory pension? That arose during our discussion yesterday on the Social Welfare Bill. Will the Minister consider introducing a non-contributory invalidity pension scheme in substitution for long term disability benefit?

The implications of that need to be considered and I will do so in the near future.

The scheme will have to be reviewed by the Minister. Is the Minister aware that a person on DB, plus occupational injury benefit, over a period may have their benefit reduced until they reach about 3 per cent when they will be paid off completely? Is the Minister aware that such unfortunate people may be suffering from a disability because of an occupational injury? It appears that such people will lose their invalidity pension.

That is a separate question but I should like to inform the Deputy that those who have a pension will not lose it. This is a question about the qualificational conditions for a pension.

I must dispute that statement. Such people are removed on the basis that they are capable of work and, therefore, are not entitled to disability benefit, or unemployment benefit if they do not have five years stamps. Those people will suffer. I am afraid the Minister will have to review it now in view——

I am afraid we are having statements rather than questions.

Injustice will be done to a large number of people.

We will proceed to another question. Question No. 7 has been disposed of with an earlier question.