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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Feb 1975

Vol. 278 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prescribed Relative Allowance.

18.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of old age pensioners in receipt of prescribed relative allowance in the country; and if it is his intention to ease the stringent qualification conditions for this allowance.

Some 3,674 persons are in receipt of prescribed relative allowance. These include 3,357 contributory and non-contributory old age pensioners and a further 317 persons who have reached pension age, and who are in receipt of widow's pension, invalidity or retirement pension.

The scheme was devised to assist pensioners who, besides being incapacitated and needing full-time care, lived mainly on their own, except for the prescribed relative who provided the full-time care they needed. Initially, the allowance was payable only in respect of a daughter or a step-daughter who resided with the pensioner to provide him with the necessary care, but the scheme has since been extended to include 16 categories of relative.

I do not think that the qualification conditions for the allowance are unduly stringent having regard to the purpose for which it is intended and the wider category of relative in respect of whom it may now be paid. I have at present no proposals for further amendment of the scheme.

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