asked the Minister for Social Welfare the annual estimated cost to the State of abolishing the means test for old age pensioners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Abolishing Old Age Pension Means Test.
43.
The cost of abolishing the means test for non-contributory old age pensions is estimated to be of the order of £3¾ million yearly. I might say, however, that its abolition would not be of any advantage to the vast majority of non-contributory old age pensioners, over 90 per cent. of whom already qualify for the maximum rate of pension under the existing means test, and it would involve payment of pension to people who are not in need of assistance from the State.