asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he will state what degree of blindness will be accepted by his Department as qualifying for pensions under the Blind Pensions Act.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - BLIND PENSIONS QUALIFICATIONS.
In doubtful claims where the Department's medical expert advises that a prima facie case for inspection exists he applies the following standard in making his recommendations after inspection:—
"Persons whose acuity of vision (refractive error being corrected) is below one-twentieth of the normal (3/60 Snellen) are usually unable to perform work requiring eyesight, while persons with vision better than one-tenth (6/60 Snellen) are usually able to perform some such work."
He exercises discretion at the same time in view of any special circumstances and keeps in mind the definition of blindness laid down in the Act, viz., that a person must be so blind as to be unable to perform any such work for which eyesight is essential.