asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, having regard to the hardship suffered by the illegitimate children of a man fatally injured in the course of his employment, by reason of the non-payment of occupational injuries benefit to such children or their mother where their mother survives their father, he will introduce legislation to enable such children to be treated for occupational injuries benefit purposes in the same manner as legitimate children or as orphans where it can be shown that such children were dependent on the deceased; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Occupational Injuries Benefit.
53.
Payments of occupational injuries benefit in respect of the children of a man who dies as a result of an occupational accident or disease take the form of an addition to a pension payable to his widow, or of an orphan's pension. Illegitimate children resident with the widow are, like legitimate children, eligible for inclusion in the widow's pension if they were normally resident with her or her husband when he died. When there is no widow, payment of an orphan's pension may be made in respect of an illegitimate child, maintained by the deceased at the time of his death, if the mother is dead and the father is dead or unknown. A child, legitimate or illegitimate, whose mother is living is not an orphan within the meaning of the Social Welfare Acts.
These arrangements for payments in respect of illegitimate children are similar to those operating in relation to widows (contributory) pension and orphans (contributory) allowance under the general social insurance scheme and further provision is not contemplated.