asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he has received a resolution from the Clonmel Corporation endorsed by the Joint Board of Grangegorman and Portrane Mental Hospitals and by other responsible bodies, representing the desirability of providing that old age pensions should be payable in respect of old persons maintained in mental hospitals, as is the case in respect of such persons in other hospitals; whether he has considered these representations; and, if so, whether he proposes to introduce proposals for legislation to give effect accordingly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pensions Proposed for Aged Mental Patients.
A copy of a resolution of the Clonmel Mental Hospital Board relating to the matter referred to in the question reached my office on the 22nd instant. On the 28th instant I received a copy of a resolution passed by the Grangegorman Mental Hospital Board supporting the proposal made by the Clonmel Board. I have given directions to have the proposal carefully examined, and considered when legislation is next undertaken for the amendment of the Old Age Pensions Acts.
Mr. Byrne
Will the Minister, when considering the matter, see that the institutions will not take all the old age pensions? Supposing the Minister gives way, and that the old age pensions go to the institutions for the upkeep of these people, will he see that the old age pensioners' relatives will get some part of the pension money so as to enable them to bring in small luxuries to the patients, such as cigarettes, tobacco and sweets?
I have told the Deputy that I am having the whole matter examined in advance of the introduction of amending legislation. The Deputy will appreciate, however, that there are considerable administrative difficulties in this matter. There is one difficulty which arises from the fact that a person who might otherwise be qualified for an old age pension is in a state of unsound mind. One has to consider how a person of that kind is to make an application, and to consider further how a person in a state of unsound mind can give a valid receipt for the pension which he receives. There is the further consideration to which the Deputy has referred, and it is, on whose behalf is the pension, if granted, going to be expended? These are considerations which will arise in an examination of the matter. The Deputy will, no doubt, recollect that I told him, in my first reply, that the resolution of the Grangegorman Mental Hospital Board only reached me two days ago.