Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Mary Wallace

Question:

37 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that where an elderly couple is in receipt of individual contributory old age pensions and where one of the spouses dies, the other will not be paid the six weeks special payments of the deceased's pension in spite of the fact that it is paid to all other pension categories; and if he will ensure that this anomaly is removed. [10528/95]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

The Social Welfare Act 1994 extended the categories of clients eligible to receive six weeks payment after death.

The further extension to the category mentioned by the Deputy would cost in the region of £1 million per annum and could be considered only in a budgetary context.