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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Nov 1964

Vol. 212 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensioners.

46.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of old age pensioners in the State on the 1st June 1964.

On 30th June, 1964, the nearest date to 1st June for which the figure is available, there were 150,201 persons in the State in receipt of pension under the contributory and non-contributory old age pension legislation.

Could the Minister break up those figures as between contributory and non-contributory?

Non-contributory, 112,148, including about 6,000 blind pensioners, and contributory, 38,053.

47.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the number of (a) men and (b) women who are at present in receipt of (i) non-contributory old age pensions and (ii) contributory old age pensions in the County Borough of Dublin and in County Dublin.

Separate statistics of men and women old age pensioners in county and county borough areas are not compiled by my Department. Statistics of non-contributory old age pensions for areas of residence are compiled only as at 31st December each year.

The numbers of persons in receipt of non-contributory old age pensions in the County Borough of Dublin and in County Dublin on 31st December, 1963, were 8,137 and 2,597 respectively.

The numbers of persons in receipt of contributory old age pensions in these areas on 30th September, 1964, were 9,263 and 1,860 respectively.

48.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will increase the old age pension allowance and all other social welfare allowances.

49.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether, in view of the unprecedented rise in the cost of living he will consider seeking some interim increase in benefits for the social welfare classes and, in particular, for single old age pensioners and widows.

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together.

During the past year the rates of payment under the principal social welfare schemes have been appreciably increased. The increases under the contributory scheme operated from January, 1964, and under the non-contributory scheme from November, 1963, and August, 1964. The classes specifically mentioned in the questions have benefited by those increases. The increases have more than kept pace with the rise in the cost of living as indicated by the Consumer Price Index.

The rates of the various benefits are continually being reviewed having regard to increases in the cost of living and other general trends in the economy. This is in accordance with the Government's policy of ensuring that social welfare beneficiaries will share in the growth of the national income.

Would the Minister consider, in accord with the action taken by a previous Government when there was an increase in the price of just one commodity of the necessities of life, to give a double payment of social welfare benefits at Christmas time to combat the increased costs on these people arising out of the drastic increase in the cost of living in recent times?

We would not be interested in stunts like that.

Would the Minister agree that the interpretation by the recipients of what was awarded was that it was anything but a stunt but an acknowledgement by the Government of the time of their difficulties at that particular time and that the Minister's attitude in relation to this reveals the attitude of the Government?

We deal with these things in a serious way at the appropriate time.

50.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will carry out a review of the present means test for non-contributory old age and widows' pensions, bearing in mind the fact that with the decline in the value of money the present levels of means prescribed are in urgent need of increase and revision generally.

The means test for old age and widows' pensions is kept under constant review bearing in mind the necessity to ensure that the financial resources available are used to help those whose need is greatest.

I would refer the Deputy to the debate in this year's Estimate for my Department, in which I dealt fully with this problem in regard to a suggestion that the means test should be abolished. I might also point out that certain easements of the means test have been made in recent years.

When was the last one?

The last Social Welfare Bill.

51.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make arrangements for the supply of fuel to the many old age pensioners throughout the country similar to arrangements now being made for the supply of fuel to pensioners in cities and large towns during the winter months.

Extension of the fuel scheme on the lines suggested is not envisaged.

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