asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider a scheme whereby blind pensions could be paid on a sliding scale, based on the degree of blindness.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Blind Pensions.
19.
I do not consider that the scheme suggested would show any improvement on the present system under which the normal occupation and the need of the claimant, as well as the degree of blindness, are taken into account.
Would the Minister not agree that there are some degrees of blindness which would prevent people carrying on their ordinary occupations and in such cases would he not consider that if he adopted the principle of the subject-matter of my question, it would be likely to meet the justice of the case more fully?
In cases such as the Deputy mentions, the full benefit is payable at the moment, subject to means test. If the Deputy's suggestion were adopted, it could result only in the reduction of the pension in cases such as that. At present 97 per cent of blind pensioners are in receipt of pensions at the maximum rate.
I am not referring to the means test but to the degree of blindness.
I am aware of that, and, as I said, in cases where a person's vision is impaired to such an extent that it prevents him from carrying on his normal occupation, the full blind pension is payable, provided his means qualify him for it. But the degree of blindness which precludes him from following his normal occupation qualifies him for full blind pension at present. If I adopted the Deputy's suggestion, the only effect would be that a smaller pension would be payable in these cases.
The Minister will appreciate that they do not always get the blind pension and a great many people are prevented from carrying on their employment.
If their sight is affected to the extent that they are unable to follow their normal occupation, they are qualified from the point of view of blindness.