asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of the increased rate of contributory old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
Written Answers. - Old Age Pension.
155.
As I have already intimated in reply to previous questions on this matter it was not possible, because of the short interval between the date of this year's budget and the dates from which the increases in the rates of pension had effect, to have pension order books at the increased rates printed and issued to the pensioners before their existing pension books expired at the end of March. In order to avoid a situation where the pensioners would have no books on which to receive payment from the beginning of April it was necessary this year to have two issues of pension books prepared for the 330,000 pensioners in the country.
The first issue of books at the prebudget rates was made in March and the books were in the hands of the pensioners to enable them to receive payment at these rates from the first week in April. The second issue which provides for the weekly increase was completed before the end of May.
Two supplementary pension order books in respect of the person concerned were issued to the designated post office and they are available for collection by him at that office.