asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether, in all cases, recipients of the non-contributory old age pension received the recent increase in the pension as from 1st August last; and, if not, the reasons for delay in any such cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensions.
71.
Arrangements were made to pay the increases to all recipients of old age pension on the first pay day in August and these arrangements worked satisfactorily. The number of pensioners at that time was nearly 118,000 and it will be appreciated that in the issue of the new payment vouchers to that number isolated instances of delay will occur. These would be due to such reasons as a change of address which had not been notified or misplacement or loss of the slips issued in certain cases for attachment to current pension books.
If the Deputy has knowledge of any case in which an increase was due and was not paid I will be glad if he will let me have details.
72.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of the Kilkenny County Old Age Pension Committee on 17th September last with regard to a revision of the means test for the noncontributory old age pension; and whether he will take any action along the lines suggested in this resolution.
I did receive a copy of the resolution referred to in the question; its receipt was acknowledged on 24th September, 1962. The resolution is based on incorrect information, however, since due allowance is, in fact, made for the cost of feeding stuffs for pigs, poultry and other stock in assessing means from agricultural holdings for old age pension purposes. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.