asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that persons in receipt of widows' and orphans' pensions have had their pensions reduced when a son either in the Army or the British Army makes an allotment of 10/- per week to such pensioners; if he proposes to remove the means test in such cases, and, furthermore, if he will state whether he proposes to introduce legislation to increase the amounts of widows' and orphans' pensions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Widows' and Orphans' Pensions.
I am not aware of the particular cases the Deputy may have in mind. His statement would not apply in the case of a person in receipt of a contributory pension under the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts. Contributory pensions are not subject to a means test and are payable irrespective of the means of the recipient. Non-contributory pensions under the Acts are subject to the test of necessity and accordingly all cash incomes from whatever source, subject to statutory exemptions, have to be taken into account. It was never intended that non-contributory pensions should be given to persons who are in receipt of income from other sources except to such extent as would comply with the statutory test of necessity. If voluntary or other allowances were to be excluded from the calculation of means in such cases the position would be entirely anomalous as the same rate of assistance would apply to many persons of varying degrees of necessity. It is not proposed to amend the Acts in this respect.
As regards the latter part of the question, this relates to a matter which no doubt will arise when the general financial position will enable the necessary provision to be made. Perhaps the Deputy will forego an answer until then.