asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in respect of County Kerry the number of blind pensioners distinguishing between male and female, and married and single, on the latest date for which statistics are available.

The number of pensions payable under the Old Age Pensions Acts to blind persons in County Kerry on 30th December, 1955, the latest date for which a figure is available, was 526. Information as to how many there were of each sex or as to their marital condition is not readily available. The information is being compiled and will be sent to the Deputy as soon as possible.