asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will take steps to increase the old age pension and to give other assistance by way of a turf allowance and free milk, as many old age pensioners dread entering an institution, a step which they are forced to take under present circumstances.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allowances for Old Age Pensioners.
42.
May I remind the Deputy that only last week this House accepted an amendment, moved by the Minister for Finance, to a motion calling for a review of pensions, to the effect that proposals concerning pensions charged on the Public Revenue should be considered only in conjunction with the Budget when they can be related to the taxation required to implement them. In the course of the debate on that motion I assured the House that the question of increases to pensioners and social welfare beneficiaries will be considered as favourably as possible. Regarding the latter part of the question I might say that, in general, I do not favour schemes of assistance in kind but would prefer improvements in pensions to take the form of cash which pensioners can spend as they wish.