asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the accepted standard of retirement being 65 years in most spheres of activity, he will consider reducing the lower age limit for the payment of old age pensions by graduated steps to 65 years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pension Age Limit.
58.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a similar question asked by Deputy Corish on 12th December, 1967, regarding the lowering of the age limit for old age pension. There is no change in the position indicated in that reply.
Surely the Minister is aware that since most people, even those who are unemployed, can draw benefit from 65 to 70, it would cost very little to introduce what is suggested in the question?
Not so little. I am just getting the figures out, and the amount is not so little.
We can take it, therefore, that the Government will give no consideration at all to a reduction of the age limit for this purpose?
I have referred the Deputy to the answer given to Deputy Corish on a previous occasion.
We have not got that. If the Minister has it there, perhaps he would give it to us?
It says:
When replying to the debate on the Estimate for my Department in October, I indicated that the reduction of the age at which old age pensions are paid is something towards which we must inevitably move. The matter has been under consideration, but I am not in a position to say when the necessary legislation is likely to be introduced.