asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he can state the total number of persons in receipt of pensions under the Blind Persons Act, 1920, and the total cost of such pensions.

The total number of persons in receipt of pensions under the Blind Persons Act, 1920, on the last Friday of the year 1928—the latest date for which the information is available— was 2,835. On this basis the cost of such pensions for that year is estimated at £68,740.

Will the Minister state if that number includes any pensioners over seventy who would be ordinarily entitled to the old age pension?

I could not say. The Deputy will have to put down a question on that.