Chapter XX: Appendix: F

THE REDUCTION IN IRISH PAUPERISM OWING TO OLD AGE PENSIONS

The Report of the Irish Local Government Board for 1911 shows a reduction in Irish pauperism between March, 1910, and March 26th, 1911, amounting to over 18,000:--

March 26th, 1910 99,607
March 25th, 1911 80,942
------
18,665

An analysis of the figures shows that the reduction is almost entirely due to the Old-age Pensions Act. There is little or no reduction in children, lunatics, or mothers, while there are the following reductions in aged and infirm paupers:--

-----------------------------------+---------+---------+------------ | 1910. | 1911. | Reduction. -----------------------------------+---------+---------+------------ Aged and infirm in work-houses | 13,478 | 11,291 | 2,187 | | | Aged and infirm on out-door relief | 51,304 | 35,681 | 15,623 -----------------------------------+---------+---------+------------ Total | 17,810 +------------

leaving only 855 of the reduction unaccounted for.