asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that a blind woman whose husband is in receipt of a contributory old age pension is thereby not entitled to receive a blind person's pension; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the blind pension should be made payable in such a case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Blind Pensions.
60.
It was an underlying principle of the scheme of old age (contributory) pensions which came into operation in 1961 that receipt of such a pension or an allowance as part of such a pension in respect of a spouse was a disqualification for a non-contributory pension, including blind pension. The allowance in respect of a spouse is 37/6 which is greater than the present maximum rate of blind pension, and, of course, a married couple in receipt of an old age contributory pension are substantially better off than if both where in receipt of non-contributory pension, whether on grounds of age or because of blindness.