asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he will extend the payment of blind welfare allowances to all applicants irrespective of age.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Blind Welfare Allowances.
11.
The payment of blind welfare allowances is primarily a matter for county and county borough councils. In fulfilment of their obligations under the Blind Persons Act, 1920, all such councils operate blind welfare schemes, approved by me, which provide, amongst other things, for the payment at their discretion of blind welfare allowances to all necessitous and unemployable blind people, over the age of 16, who are ordinarily resident within their areas and for whom education and industrial training is not provided. Apart from this, there is no age condition for the payment of blind welfare allowances and the question of an extension does not arise.