asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (1) the number of Civil Service officials employed wholetime in investigating the claims of applicants for the old age pensions in connection with the means test; (2) the total of the salaries paid to these officers; and (3) the approximate cost of operating the means test as applied to old age pension claimants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensions Means Test.
No officials are employed wholetime in investigating the claims of applicants for the old age pension in connection with the means test. The Investigation Branch of the Revenue Commissioners is engaged, in addition to the administration of the Old Age Pension Acts, in investigation work for other Departments in connection with widows' and orphans' pensions, unemployment assistance qualification certificates, etc. The staff of the Old Age Pension Appeals Section of the Department of Local Government and Public Health also deals with appeals on issues other than the means test. It is thus not possible to give the particulars in the form requested by the Deputy at (1) and (2) of his question. On a recent calculation, it is estimated that the total cost of operating the means test, including overhead charges, is in the region of £30,000 and that this amount includes a figure approximating to the full-time salaries and expenses of some 50 officers.