asked the Minister for Social Welfare the annual cost to the Exchequer of the local old age pensions' committees; and their functions and number.
Written Answers. - Old Age Pension's Committees.
970.
There are 357 pension committees and sub-committees at present. The cost of these for 1982 is estimated to be of the order of £120,000. Their function, set out in section 164 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981, is to decide on claims to non-contributory old age and blind pensions on the basis of reports made to them by social welfare officers.