asked the Minister for Social Welfare when is it proposed to pay an old age pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.

The person concerned is entitled to an old age contributory pension at the maximum rate with effect from 18 October 1985. He is in receipt of an invalidity pension at present and has been asked to return his book for that pension to the Department after cashing the order for 23 January 1986. An old age contributory pension book will be issued to the designated post office for collection by him on Friday, 31 January 1986, and he will be notified accordingly.

Arrears of old age contributory pension from 18 October 1985 to 30 January 1986 less the amount of invalidity pension paid during this period will be issued to him by payable order, shortly.

I agree with the Chair that the reason we table questions is to elicit information but in seeking that information we often get long, round-about statements from Ministers. I am not saying that that is the case today but when we seek information we get answers that are not directly related to the question. With regard to what happened yesterday I agree with the action of my colleague when the Taoiseach walked out of the House and would not answer questions on unemployment.

The Deputy should ask a supplementary question or resume his seat.

I was anxious to make that observation in regard to the questions we tabled. I received an acknowledgment from the Department about this matter on 12 December. Will the Minister tell the House why an old age pension that was approved on 28 October last has not been paid? Will he agree that activity in this regard, such as the returning of the book, has taken too long? Is it not time when there is such pressure in his Department to appoint additional staff?

The Deputy is making a speech.

Unfortunately, an error occurred in this case. The Department of Social Welfare cannot claim to be infallible. It is very difficult to operate a scheme without errors occurring but fortunately, such errors are not that plentiful. The invalidity pension in this case was kept in payment up to today. The error and the delay are regretted and the matter has been rectified. As the Deputy is aware, there is a difference between the rate of invalidity pension and that of a contributory old age pension and that is being made good to the person concerned.

The Minister of State did not answer my question.

The Chair cannot help the Deputy in that regard. We have got through a question and a half in 15 minutes. If I get an indication from a substantial number of Deputies that that is the way I should conduct Question Time that is one thing but the Chair considers it absurd to conduct Question Time in the manner the Deputy is seeking to conduct it.

I agree with what the Chair has said. I am not sure how long my question has been before the House but I am anxious to point out that the Minister did not answer my supplementary question. I asked the Minister what he was proposing to do in regard to the number of people employed in his Department which is snowed under with work.

That is a separate question.

The shortage of staff is the cause of the delay.

3.