asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that Pension Officers are taking into account outdoor relief in valuing the means of persons under the Old Age Pensions Acts, and if he will say whether the Pensions Officers have authority to do this.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MEANS OF OLD AGE PENSIONERS.
I will explain the position fully for the information of the Deputy. If a claimant or pensioner is in receipt of outdoor relief, and if it appears that the relief is likely to continue, a Pension Officer must include the value of such relief in his calculation of the person's means. The authority for the inclusion of such relief in the calculation of the means is contained in Sections 2 (1) (b) and 2 (1) (d) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911. Section 2 (1) (b) provides that in calculating the means of a person for old age pension purposes, account shall be taken of the income which that person may reasonably expect to receive during the succeeding year in cash, and Section 2 (1) (d) provides that account shall be taken of the yearly value of any benefit or privilege enjoyed by that person.
In practice, however, the Poor Law authorities discontinue the relief as soon as the recipient becomes entitled to an old age pension, and in these circumstances the question of the inclusion of the value of the relief in the calculation of the means does not arise.
Does the Minister know that automatically, in some districts, as soon as a person applies for relief the Old Age Pensions officer cuts him off, or attempts to cut him off, that these officers are now making enquiries relative to pensioners in receipt of Poor Law Relief, and that the local authorities are, as soon as a person comes to seventy years of age, cutting them off the Poor Law Relief, so that the old persons as a consequence of the conflict between two Government Departments are allowed to starve?
I am informed that that is not so, and if any cases or specific instances can be brought to my notice I shall certainly see to them.