asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether his attention has been called to the decision in respect of the blind pensioner No. 2993, by which the pension was reduced by 7/- per week; whether he is aware that in this case the present rate of pension is 4/- per week less than the rate in force previous to the enactment of the Act of 1932; whether he is aware that in this decision the pensioner has not been given the benefit of the provisions of Section 7 of the 1932 Act; further, whether he will state the legislative provision under which there are taken into account the allowances of children when calculating the means of the parent for the purpose of blind persons' pensions; and whether he will indicate the regulation under which the income of applicants for blind pensions under Section 2 of the Blind Persons Act, 1920, is taken into account when determining the amount of the pension provided under Section 1 of that Act.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Blind Pension Reduction.
The case referred to is apparently that of Matthew Dunne, 3 Camden Place, Dublin, who held a pension of 10/- a week under the Blind Persons Act. On a question raised by the pension officer the pension was reduced to 3/- a week from 21st December, 1934.
The Act of 1932 made no reduction in the weekly rate of pensions as suggested. Moreover Dunne, who was born in 1890, was not 50 years of age prior to 1932 and could not have held a blind pension before then.
Section 7 of the Old Age Pension Act of 1932 cannot apply to this case, as the pension was allowed subsequent to this Act.
The calculation of the pensioner's means is made under Section 2 (1) (b) of the Old Age Pension Act, 1911, which contains no provision to authorise the deduction of the cost of maintenance of children in ascertaining parents' income.