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.