asked the Minister for Social Welfare the annual cost of administration of the means test for blind pensions; and the number of applications refused in the past 12 months.
Written Answers. - Blind Pension Means Test.
460.
Blind pensions are in effect non-contributory old age pensions granted by reason of blindness at an earlier age than 70 years and are administered as part of the old age pensions scheme. The determination of separate administration costs for blind recipients would not be practicable. The total number of blind pension applications disallowed in a recent 12 month period was 64 of which 16 were on grounds of means.