The Principal Act is amended by substituting the following for Chapter 5 of Part 3:

"Chapter 5 Blind Pension

161. Interpretation.

In this Chapter-

‘ spouse ’ includes a party to a marriage that has been dissolved, being a dissolution that is recognised as valid in the State;

‘ weekly means ’ shall, subject to Rule 1(1) of Part 5 of Schedule 3, be the yearly means divided by 52.

161A. Entitlement to pension.

 Subject to this Act, a person shall be entitled to pension (in this Act referred to as ‘blind pension’) where-

(a) the person has attained the age of 18 years but has not attained pensionable age,

(b) the person is so blind that he or she either cannot perform any work for which eyesight is essential or cannot continue his or her ordinary occupation,

(c) the means of the person as calculated in accordance with the Rules contained in Part 5 of Schedule 3 do not exceed the appropriate highest amount of means at which pension may be paid to that person in accordance with section 161B, and

(d) the person is habitually resident in the State at the date of the making of the application for that pension.

161B. Rate of pension.

(1) The rate (in this Chapter referred to as ‘the scheduled rate’) of blind pension shall be the weekly rate set out in column (2) at reference 5 in Part 1 of Schedule 4 increased by the appropriate amount set out in column (4) of that Part in respect of each qualified child who normally resides with the claimant or beneficiary.