asked the Minister for Finance if he will state, in respect of the year ended the 30th June, 1946, the number of cases in which payment of old age pensions was withdrawn; and the number of cases in which the amount of pension payable was reduced.

During the year ended 30th June, 1946, 390 old age pensions were revoked and 308 old age pensions were reduced.

That is to say, 308 were reduced, for the whole of the State?

Yes, that is right.

I hope the Minister will check up on that information again.

It was checked up.

There is that number in my own constituency.

asked the Minister for Finance if it is his intention, when the Dáil meets after the recess, to amend the Old Age Pensions Acts so as to make increased allowances available to recipients, and also to modify the existing means test, in view of the universal demand for such alterations and the present high cost of living.

In view of the existing Exchequer commitments, I can hold out no hope of increasing old age pensions or of modifying the means test attaching to the grant of such pension.