asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of persons whose applications for blind pensions were refused for each of the years 1970, 1971 and 1972.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Blind Pensions.
63.
Eighty-one applicants for blind pensions were refused in each of the calender years 1970 and 1971. The figure for the year 1972 is not yet available.
64.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost of the administration of the means test system in respect of the blind pension.
Blind pensions are administered as an integral part of the non-contributory old age pensions scheme. Accordingly it is not possible to determine seperate administration costs in respect of the blind pension scheme.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the statement made by the former Minister that it cost £36,000 to refuse 28 applications for blind pensions? Is he prepared to consider the abolition of the means test for so-called blind pensions? Will he change the title to "blind persons' allowance" as is the case in Northern Ireland and in Great Britain? We got a figure of £36,000 from the former Minister. It was an off-the-cuff figure.
I am aware that the figure of £12,000 was mentioned by the former Minister for Social Welfare. It was an approximate figure.
For one year.