asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that recipients of non-contributory widows' and orphans' pensions, at the rate of 14/- a week applicable to persons resident in the City of Dublin, have been informed that a change of residence from Summerhill, Dublin, to Clonranald Road, Donnycarney, stated to be outside the boundary of the County Borough of Dublin, will involve a reduction of pension payments to them to the rural rate of 9/- a week; and if he will take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that persons transferred to new Dublin Corporation housing schemes will not suffer such reductions in pensions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pension Rates in Dublin City and County.
Summerhill, Dublin, is in the County Borough of Dublin and, in accordance with sub-section (1) of Section 20 of the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Act, 1935, the maximum non-contributory pension payable to a widow resident there with three dependent children is 14/- per week. Clonranald Road, Donnycarney, is outside the county borough area and under sub-section (3) of the said Section 20, the maximum non-contributory pension payable to a widow resident there with three dependent children is 9/-per week.
It is not at present proposed to amend the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts to provide that non-contributory pensions at the rates appropriate to residents in a county borough will be granted to pensioners resident outside county boroughs.