asked the Minister for Social Welfare if in view of the hardship imposed on old age pensioners by the present rate of pension he intends to introduce legislation to provide for an increased pension and to abolish the means test.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increased Old Age Pensions.
75.
As far as the first part of the question is concerned, I would refer the Deputy to the reply given to his previous question in November last in which it was indicated that these pensions, in common with other social assistance payments, were increased as recently as August last; that this was the third succesive year in which increases were granted and that they have, in fact, been increased no less than four times since 1957. So far as the second part of the question is concerned, the answer is in the negative. The abolition of the means test for non-contributory old age pension would not bring any advantage to the vast majority of non-contributory old age pensioners, over 90% of whom already qualify for the maximum rate of pension under the existing means test, and would involve payment of pension to well-to-do people who are not in need of assistance from the State.
Question No. 76 postponed.