asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount paid to blind pensioners in 1947; and by how much and in what years these pensions have been increased to date.
41.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increases in Blind and Old Age Pensions.
40.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount paid to old age pensioners in 1947; and by how much and in what years these pensions have been increased to date.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 41 together.
The basic weekly rates of both old age and blind pensions have always been equal. The rate was 10/- in 1947 but, in addition, all pensioners were granted cash supplements of 2/6d. a week in April of that year and these supplements were increased to 5/- a week for those in urban areas the following July.
The supplements were discontinued in January, 1949, when an increased basic weekly rate of pension of 17/6 came into operation. Subsequent increases were as follows:—
by 2/6d. to 20/- per week in 1951,
by 1/6d. to 21/6d. per week in 1952,
by 2/6d. to 24/- per week in 1955,
by 1/- to 25/- per week in 1957,
by 2/6d. to 27/6d. per week in 1959,
by 1/- to 28/6 per week in 1960 and
by 1/6d. to 30/- per week in 1961.