asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if, in view of the increased and steadily increasing cost of the necessaries of life, he will consider taking the necessary steps to increase the scales of pensions for widows, as their present meagre allowances are not sufficient to relieve their distress.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Scales of Pensions for Widows.
The food allowances which recipients of widows' and orphans' pensions in urban areas have for some time been receiving and the cost of which is borne by the Exchequer are equivalent to a substantial increase in pension rates. It is not proposed to vary the existing cash rates of pensions.
In other words they have sufficient?
Does the Parliamentary Secretary know the conditions under which widows and orphans are living in the country to-day, or does he care anything about them? Their allowance would not procure them water, not to talk of food.