asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position regarding the payment of old age non-contributory pensions to persons who take up residence outside Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pensions.
18.
Under existing legislation an old age, non-contributory, pension is not payable to a person who takes up residence outside the State except in the case of a person who takes up residence in Northern Ireland. In that case the non-contributory pension may be paid for a period of five years or until the person concerned becomes entitled to receive supplementary benefit in Northern Ireland whichever first occurs.
Do I take it form the Parliamentary Secretary's reply that the EEC regulations have no bearing on the present position when a person wants to take up residence outside the country?
No. What I have stated is in relation to non-contributory pensions. The EEC regulations govern contributory pensions. This does not apply to contributory pensions.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are people in the west of Ireland who find it necessary to go to live with married sons and daughters in England and that these regulations deprive them of benefiting from the old age pension? Would he examine the matter with a view to trying to help?
As the Deputy is aware, the non-contributory old age pension is granted as a result of a means test. If a person is residing outside the State in the circumstances which the Deputy describes, it is possible that the means have changed. There is provision that, if a person goes outside the State, on returning he can receive retrospectively up to a period of three months the non-contributory old age pension. In certain circumstances that can be extended to six months.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a number of old age pensioners in the city of Dublin have refused to go and live with their relatives because they would lose the independence their pension gives them and have become a charge on the State not only in relation to their pensions but also in relation to housing accommodation?
I am not so aware.
It is true. I shall send the Parliamentary Secretary a case.