asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction exists amongst applicants for the old age pensions allowance of 2/6 (1) regarding the payment of this allowance through public assistance authority, and (2) as a result of the rigid means test that is applied to applicants; and whether, in order to remove the foregoing sources of objection, he will have the allowance paid at the post office to all old age pensioness in receipt of 10/- per week, and have the necessary adjustment made later with the various assistance authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pension Allowance.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, the arrangement suggested would be outside the ambit of the Vote for the purpose, as recently agreed to by this House.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary give the House any indication as to how the eligibility of applicants for this allowance is determined? It seems to me that there is an entire want of uniformity in arriving at a conclusion on that matter.
The question of eligibility is decided by the local authority.
Is it a test of eligibility that the applicant should otherwise be qualified for home assistance?
It is a matter that is entirely within the discretion of the local authority.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary object to the definition that the test in the case of these allowances is the test that is usually applied in connection with home assistance?
That is a different matter altogether.
In view of what I consider the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I propose, Sir, with your permission, to raise this matter on the adjournment of the House to-night.
Might I be permitted to point out, Sir, that the Minister has no discretion in relation to the payment of home assistance, and that only last week this House approved of the method of administration in regard to the payment of these allowances when it approved of the Vote?
Is it set out in the Vote?
Under sub-head J (6) of the Estimate it is set out that grants towards provision of supplemental allowances to certain old age pensioners, certain blind pensioners and their dependent children, and to certain recipients of disablement benefit, under the National Health Insurance Acts, and their dependent children, will be payable by public assistance authorities to persons of the classes indicated who are members of necessitous households and reside in areas to which the scheme of food allowances—provided for in Vote 71—does not extend. That was set out in the Estimate under sub-head J (6), and was approved by the House last week.
This allowance is set out as an old age pension allowance. It is either that, or a home assistance allowance. That is the principle that is at the root of affairs.
Mr. Corish
May I point out that this matter was raised last week by various Deputies, and that the Minister for Local Government and Public Health made no effort to answer it?
That is quite untrue. I devoted a considerable part of my speech to dealing with that matter.
I shall look into the question between now and the adjournment.