asked the Minister for Social Welfare on what authority investigation officers of his Department demand from administrators and executors of the wills of-old age pensioners the right to inspect hank and other accounts of deceased persons' estates.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Deceased Persons' Estates: Inspection of Accounts.
5.
In the normal course information regarding the estates of deceased persons can only be obtained from their personal representatives, and no specific authority is necessary when requesting information from administrators and executors who are the legal representatives of deceased pensioners. Authority to inspect bank or other accounts is requested only when it comes to light that there were assets of which the Department was not already aware. In such circumstances the Department is obliged to investigate the possibility that a deceased pensioner was not entitled to the rates of pension paid to him, and to take any necessary action to recover moneys overpaid.