asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that in a large number of cases in Cork City old age pensioners were unable to obtain payment of their pension for Christmas week owing to a hitch in his Department; if he will give details of the number of persons so affected and the reasons why such payments were not made; and if, in view of the grave hardship imposed on pensioners by the failure of his Department to properly look after the interests of the old age pensioners concerned, any action has been or will be taken against those responsible for the situation in question.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Old Age Pensions in Cork City.
73.
I am aware that in a relatively small number of cases old age pensioners in the Cork city area were unable to obtain their pensions on 20th December, 1963. This was due to the fact that an insufficient supply of receipt slips authorising the increased pension rates was issued to them in October last. Immediately my Department became aware of the position further supplies of slips were issued to the pensioners concerned. I should mention that in all these cases the receipt slips were in the hands of the pensioners from the end of October, 1963, and if the shortage had been brought to the notice of my Department at any time between that date and the date on which the slips became exhausted the matter would have been remedied at once without any interruption of payment of pension. As it was, the Department had no means of knowing of the shortage of slips until pensioners brought the fact to its notice.