asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that a large number of old age pensioners aged eighty years have been refused 10s. a week pension on the grounds that they were not eighty years of age at the passing of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1924, and whether legislation will be introduced to bring the pensions of such pensioners, who are dependent on the pension for their livelihood, up to the 10s. rate.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - OLD AGE PENSIONERS UNDER 1924 ACT.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
As regards the first part of the question, the position is, that, under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1924, only those persons who had attained the age of 80 years or upwards on 20th June, 1924, and were in receipt of pensions on that date, were exempted from the reduction in the rates of pension introduced by that Act.
There is at the present time no intention to introduce legislation dealing with the point mentioned by the Deputy.
Does the Minister think it is just to deprive a person who is eighty years of age of a pension of 10s. per week? When may we expect a report from the Commission set up to consider the advisability of increasing pensions?
There was no Commission set up to consider the advisability of increasing pensions.
When is it likely that we will have a report from the Commission that was set up?
I would require notice of that question.