asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost to the Exchequer in the current financial year of (a) the increases granted in non-contributory pensions and (b) the increases granted in contributory pensions.

It is estimated that the cost to the Exchequer in the current financial year of the increases in non-contributory pensions will be £1.866 million, of which £1,586 million is in respect of old age and blind pensions and the remainder in respect of widows' pensions.

The estimated total cost of the increases in contributory pensions in the current financial year is £584,000, comprised of £332,000 in respect of old age pensions and £252,000 in respect of widows' pensions. Approximately one-third of the total cost will fall on the Exchequer.

32.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare (a) the number of old age non-contributory pensioners who will receive the increase of 5/- announced in the Budget, (b) the number of persons in receipt of widows' non-contributory pension who will get this increase, and (c) the number of blind non-contributory pensioners who will get the increase.

The estimated numbers are (a) 40,040, (b) 11,000, (c) 1,400.

33.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of blind non-contributory pensioners who will receive the increase of 10/- per week announced in the Budget.

35.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated number of old age non-contributory pensioners who will get the increase of 10/- per week announced in the Budget.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 35 together.

As I indicated in the House on Wednesday last, the estimated number of pensioners under the Old Age Pensions Acts who will receive the increase of 10/- per week is 70,560. Of these approximately 4,600 are blind pensioners.

34.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated number of persons in receipt of widows' non-contributory pension who will receive the increase of 10/- per week announced in the Budget.

It is estimated that about 11,000 widows in receipt of non-contributory pensions will receive the increase of 10/- a week announced in the Budget.