asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of an increase in the contributory pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when payment will issue.
Written Answers. - Contributory Pension.
488.
The person concerned has been in receipt of a widow's contributory pension since 1965.
A pension order book at the pre-Budget 1980 rate of £17.70 per week, payable from 4 April 1980, was issued to the designated post office for collection by her in March 1980. The supplementary book at the rate of £4.45 a week containing orders also payable from 4 April 1980 has now been issued.
The delay in the issue of the supplementary book was due to the fact that in the processing of the large number of supplementary books for more than 320,000 pensioners during April and May last the issue of the book to this widow was inadvertently overlooked. I would like to thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention and I regret the inconvenience caused.