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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Dec 1926

Vol. 17 No. 8

CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - OLD AGE PENSION ADMINISTRATION.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state how many old age pensions granted prior to the introduction of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1924, have been reduced in each county of the Saorstát; the total amount of such reduction in each county, and, whether the administration necessary to carry such reduction into effect necessitated an increase in the staff dealing with old age pensions ordinarily.

No figures are available from which the information required could be compiled for the reason that in 1921 the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, London, discontinued by order the returns which had previously been furnished annually by each pension officer showing, as regards his own station, the number of old age pensioners at each rate in each administrative county and borough; and the practice of keeping these returns was not revived until December, 1924. The consequence is that, from 1921 until December, 1924, there is a gap in the records; and as there are no figures showing the position, county by county, immediately prior to the coming into effect of the reduction in 1924, it is impossible to furnish a reply to the first and second parts of the question. With regard to the final part of the question, the additional work in connection with the administration of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1924, did not entail any increase in the staff normally employed in dealing with old age pensions.

Could the Minister give information regarding the country as a whole, apart from each county?

I do not know. I could, for instance, give certain information. I will give what information I can get which would be nearest to what the Deputy requires.

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