asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if, in view of the increased cost of living, he is prepared to make an Emergency Order extending the yearly means for the purposes of widows' and orphans' pensions from £13 to £40 within which a widow residing in a rural area may qualify for a non-contributory pension.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Widows' and Orphans' Pensions.
Under the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts widows in rural areas with means amounting to £40 per annum may qualify for pensions if they have two or more dependent children. The first 2/6 a week of any voluntary payment to a widow is exempted and a widow with two children if her means include a voluntary payment of that amount would be eligible for a pension of 3/- per week. In similar circumstances a widow with three children would be entitled to 6/- per week. Where there are more than three children an additional 1/- per week would be payable in respect of each additional child.
A modification of the means test to enable an unconditional contributory pension to be paid to all widows with means up to £40 per annum would involve very heavy additional expenditure. It is not proposed to take action on the lines suggested by the Deputy.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware of the general dissatisfaction that exists regarding the application of the means test in calculating widows' and orphans' pensions; and, if so, whether he is in a position to state if proposals will be introduced in the near future for the purpose of abolishing or modifying such means test.
The special food allowances which have been provided by the Government for persons in receipt of old age pensions, widows' and orphans' pensions and pensions for the blind in urban areas constitute a substantial increase in their pension rates. In many cases assistance has thereby been increased by over 100 per cent. Such persons also receive special consideration in connection with the scheme for the provision of fuel in non-turf areas so that, bearing in mind all the other burdens on the community, there can be no reasonable ground for dissatisfaction with the present position. It is not proposed to introduce legislation modifying the present means test.
In this particular case, does the Minister contend that there is not general dissatisfaction with the application of the means test? Whatever may be the position in connection with Deputy Smith's constituency, surely there is a case to be made for a revision of the method of calculating means in regard to old age pensions, widows' and orphans' pensions and blind persons' pensions in the country generally?
I am aware of the fact that there is no reasonable ground for general dissatisfaction.
What is the general estimate for administering this means test?