asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider amending the application forms for blind pensions at present in use so that it may be possible in all cases to determine the actual predisposing cause of blindness, and enable his Department to compile annual statistics as is the case in most other countries, with the result that many cases of blindness may be prevented, thus avoiding much suffering to the individual and expense to the State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Blind Persons' Application Forms.
I do not consider that an amendment of the application form for a blind pension at present in use would make it possible to determine the actual predisposing cause of blindness. Adequate facilities are not at present available in many parts of the country and any statistics which could be obtained under existing conditions would be so inaccurate and misleading as to be useless for the purpose envisaged in the question. In the circumstances I do not propose to amend the form.