asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated number of old age pensioners who will qualify for the Budget increase on 1st November, 1966.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pension Increase.
32.
It is estimated that some 21,000 will qualify.
(Cavan): Am I correct in thinking that a mere right of residence in favour of a person who has transferred his farm to his son which is ordinarily valued at 1/-per week, will disqualify that person from the proposed increase of five shillings?
Yes. It is the right of residence and maintenance which is usually assessed at 1/- a week. That would disqualify.
If he has a shilling a week, he is disqualified.
A person who has a right of residence and maintenance is in a different position from a person who has not.
(Cavan): I would like the Minister to clear this up now. Will a right of residence alone, as distinct from a right of residence, support and maintenance, disqualify a person in relation to this increase?
Any means will disqualify.
Does the Budget proposal mean that in order to qualify for the 5/- increase a pensioner must prove to the satisfaction of the social welfare officer that he has no means whatever or less than the £26?
No means—this is for people who have no means.
It is a second means test?
It is not a second means test. It is a gradual rationalisation of the means test.
If they do not degrade themselves, they do not get it.
It is generally agreed that people with no means should get something extra. I have been pressed by members of the Opposition during the year to give something extra to people with no means. This is a step in the right direction.
Could the Minister indicate roughly what percentage of the total is the 21,000?
It would be between one-fifth and one-sixth of the total.
And the Irish Press had the audacity to announce it for all pensioners.
And so had Radio Éireann.
There was no false impression. The announcement made by the Minister for Finance was accurate.
But not by Radio Éireann and the Evening Press.