asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the grounds on which Mrs. Margaret Clarke, Carrickboy, Edgeworthstown, County Longford, was refused a blind pension.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Blind Pensions Claims.
Mrs. Clarke's husband is in constant employment and her claim to pension was refused on the ground that her means exceeded the statutory limit of £52 5s. 0d. per annum.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that Mr. Duggan, a blind pensioner, of Butcher's Lane, Waterford, was formerly receiving a pension of £1 2s. 6d. together with three food vouchers worth 2/6 each, but that he has since lost 5/- a week; and if, in view of the hardship caused, he will have Mr. Duggan's total pension brought up to its former level.
According to the records of my Department there is no blind pensioner named Duggan residing at the address quoted, but if the Deputy will furnish the full name and correct address of the person and repeat his question at a later date I shall be pleased to answer it. I may add, for the Deputy's information, that the Social Welfare Act, 1948, did not operate to reduce any blind pension; if any cash allowance for a child ceased to be payable it was probably due to the fact that the child had reached 16 years of age or had entered employment. The cesser of the allowance at 16 years of age was provided for when the cash supplements were introduced in 1947.