asked the Minister for Social Welfare when arrears of pay-related benefit and sickness benefit due for almost two months will be paid to a claimant (details supplied) in Dublin.

Following receipt of the necessary medical evidence of incapacity for work a cheque in payment of all arrears of disability benefit due was issued to the person concerned on 22 December 1980.

Arrears of pay-related benefit were paid on 29 December 1980 when details of the claimant's reckonable earnings for the relevant income tax year became available. Further payment of disability benefit and pay-related benefit has since been made to 26 January 1981.

33.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the means test for the purpose of assessing the non-contributory old age pension was last revised; if it is proposed to revise it; and, if so, when and to what extent.

The last revision of the means test for non-contributory old age pension took place in 1980, in the course of implementing budget provisions, when the weekly upper means limit was increased to £23.

As the Deputy is aware, this year's budget has once again made substantial provision for people receiving social welfare pensions. I shall be presenting legislation to the House to provide for implementation of the budget increases shortly. This legislation will automatically give effect to the necessary means test revisions occasioned by the increases.

When was it last increased?

Last year, after the budget.

The means test of £6 is completely unrealistic. It should be far more, particularly with the drop in value of the IR£.

The upper limit was increased to £23 at that stage and the base was not altered.

The base is £6 which is completely unrealistic.

(Cavan-Monaghan): When was the income limit for the full pension last revised?

The last time we had a Government.

The Minister should have that at the tips of his fingers.

The lower limit of £6 was effective from 4 April 1975.

(Cavan-Monaghan): In view of the galloping inflation in recent years it is high time that was updated.

This is a matter to be considered now——

Question No. 34.