asked the Minister for Finance if it is intended to introduce proposals for legislation to amend the Old Age Pensions Act, 1924, by restoring to old age pensioners the rates of pensions payable prior to the coming into operation of that Act.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - OLD AGE PENSIONS.
Mr. TIMOTHY SHEEHY
As explained in the course of the debate on the financial motions in April last, I look forward to an improvement in economic conditions and in the yield of taxation which will make possible the restoration to the old age pensioners of the reductions made under the provisions of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1924, without recourse to the imposition of additional taxation. The Government will continue to give the matter close consideration with a view to taking action in the direction desired.
Would the Minister say when he hopes to be in a position to restore it—next year or in ten years' time?
I would hope to do so a great deal sooner than ten years' time. It really is a question of the economic condition of the country. Unless there is a substantial improvement in the economic conditions of the country, it would not be possible to introduce proposals for extending the old age pensions without imposing fresh taxation for the purpose of obtaining revenue.
Is the Minister aware that many of those old age pensioners are, as a result of the cut, almost on the verge of starvation?
No, I am not.
I would like to point out to the Minister that it is desirable that he should relieve the secrecy that his Department imposes on Pension Officers preventing them from dealing in the ordinary way when discussing with the local committee applications for old age pensions; in that way we can get the views of the local committee who are perhaps best entitled to decide what are the applicant's real means and what real assessment value can be placed on his holding of land?
That is a different question.