Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Mar 1943

Vol. 89 No. 12

Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensioners' Means.

asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that some benevolent societies are anxious to provide new pensions and to increase their present payments to retired workers and their widows from funds to which the workers have contributed, but that the provision of such would operate to deprive the recipients of corresponding amounts of old age pension; and if, in view of this fact and of the greatly increased cost of living, he will amend the Old Age Pension Acts so as to allow old age pensioners to receive increased means without prejudice to their present rates of old age pension.

In calculating the means of a person for old age pension purposes account is taken, inter alia, of the income which that person may reasonably expect to receive during the succeeding year, in cash, excluding certain items specifically exempted by law. The rate of pension payable per week is based on the yearly means of the pensioner. An increase in a cash allowance paid to an old age pensioner might disentitle him to the rate of pension of which he is in receipt, and steps would then have to be taken to reduce his pension to the appropriate rate.

Since September, 1941, allowances in kind have been given to old age pensioners (including blind persons and their dependent children) resident in county boroughs and incorporated towns. A fuel scheme has been put into operation during the past winter to supply fuel at cheap rates to necessitous classes, including old age pensioners and blind pensioners in county boroughs, boroughs and urban districts in non-turf areas. I am not prepared to take action on the lines suggested by the Deputy.

Mr. Byrne

In view of his continued refusal to allow old persons to receive extra cash payments to meet the cost of living, and in view of the appeals from all sides of the House, will the Minister not consider making provision similar to that which applies in the case of widows' and orphans' pensions whereby an amount up to £6 10s. 0d. a year is allowable before the means test is operated?

Considerable additional provision has been made for old age pensioners in view of the increased cost of living.

Mr. Byrne

The allowance does not take into account the increase in the cost of living. It allows for a certain amount of the essentials of life in the way of food but there are other essentials. Will the Minister ever realise, or will the Fianna Fáil Republican Government ever realise, that old persons cannot offer buttons to the rent collector, cannot buy the essentials of life with their prayers or their good wishes, or cannot be sustained with the alleged consoling thought that there is a better Ireland just around the corner because their hungry grandchildren and great-grandchildren are learning to repeat, parrot-like, "a dó is a dó, sin a ceathair"?

That is a speech, not a question.

Would the Minister, in view of the alarm caused amongst old age pensioners and other classes in receipt of food vouchers, indicate that it is not the intention of the Government to withdraw such grants for food allowances to old age pensioners, widows and other such classes?

There is no intention to withdraw the food allowances that have been made.

That impression has got abroad.

It is quite wrongly founded.

Would the Minister clear up that misunderstanding by a brief statement, because that impression has got abroad?

There is no intention to withdraw the food allowances or the fuel allowances that have been made in the last 12 months.

Can we take it then that old age pensioners, widows, people in receipt of unemployment assistance and national health insurance will continue to receive these food and fuel allowances?

The food vouchers and the fuel allowances made last year are being continued.

Top
Share