asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that dependant's allowance has not been paid to Mr. Michael Finn, Clara Road, Moate, in respect of his son, Volunteer Patrick Finn, who joined the National Army in August, 1922, and is now stationed in Clara; further, if he is aware that this Volunteer, previous to enlisting, contributed £2 0s. 0d. towards the upkeep of the house, and, as his father is in a destitute state, will the Minister see that allowance is granted?
WRITTEN ANSWERS. - DEPENDANTS' ALLOWANCES.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
No application has been received from Mr. Finn, but on the information conveyed in the question the case is being investigated.
asked the Minister for Defence whether a dependant's allowance has yet been paid to the mother of John Egan (11815), who joined the National Army at Portumna on September 5th, 1922, and who is at present stationed in Ballinasloe; if not, will he see that the claim will receive immediate attention?
An allowance of 7/- per week is being paid to Mrs. Egan.
asked the Minister for Defence whether a claim has been made for dependant's allowance by Mrs. B. Curry, Slash Cottage, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow, on account of her son, Volunteer William Curry (No. 9879), Wexford Brigade, who joined the National Army in July, 1922; whether her claim has been disallowed; if so, will he state the grounds on which it was disallowed, as the claim is a deserving one, owing to infirmity of his parents, would he be prepared to give it further consideration?
The claim of Mrs. Curry, who was partially dependent on her son, was disallowed on the ground that the extent of dependence, which in the case of an unmarried soldier is taken to be the amount normally contributed by a soldier to his home over and above the cost of his own maintenance therein for a reasonable period prior to enlistment, was less than the minimum specified by the regulations, that is, 12/- per week, before an allowance may be issued.
I should add that the regulations are based on a recognition of an obligation on the part of an unmarried soldier to contribute to the support of his dependants a reasonable portion of his Army Pay, this portion being calculated at 8/- per week in the case of a soldier receiving ordinary rates of pay.
The claim was investigated locally and there appears to be no reason why it should be reconsidered.
asked the Minister for Defence whether a claim has been made for dependants' allowance by Mrs. Ellen Kelly, Colley Street, Wicklow, on account of her son, Volunteer Thomas Kelly (No. 21130), who joined the National Army in March, 1922; whether her claim has been disallowed, if so, will he state the grounds on which it was disallowed, and, as the claim is a deserving one, would he be prepared to give it further consideration?
The claim of Mrs. Kelly, who was partially dependent on her son, was disallowed on the ground that the extent of dependence, which in the case of an unmarried soldier is taken to be the amount normally contributed by a soldier to his home over and above the cost of his own maintenance therein for a reasonable period prior to enlistment, was less than the minimum specified by the regulations, that is, 12s. per week, before an allowance may be issued.
I should add that the regulations are based on a recognition of an obligation on the part of an unmarried soldier to contribute to the support of his dependents a reasonable portion of his Army pay, this portion being calculated at 8s. per week in the case of a soldier receiving ordinary rates of pay. The claim was investigated locally, and there appears to be no reason why it should be reconsidered.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that dependents' allowance has not been paid to Mrs. Farrell, Main Street, Moate, in respect of her son, Volunteer Michael Farrell, who joined the National Army in July, 1922, and is at present stationed in Athlone; further, as the claimant is a widow, will he see her case gets immediate attention?
The claim of Mrs. Farrell, who was partially dependent on her son, was disallowed on the ground that her son, who was not living at home, did not regularly contribute to her support for a reasonable period prior to his enlistment the minimum amount specified by the regulations, that is, 12s. per week. It should be stated that the regulations governing the matter are based on the recognition of an obligation on the part of an unmarried soldier to contribute to the support of his dependents a reasonable portion of his Army pay, this portion being calculated as 8s. per week in the case of a soldier receiving ordinary rate of pay.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
asked the Minister for Defence why dependents' allowance has not been paid to Mrs. Killeen, Athlone Road, Moate, in respect of her two sons, Volunteer James Killeen, who joined the National Army in July, 1922, and is at present stationed in Ballymore, and Volunteer Francis Killeen, who enlisted in August, 1922, and is now stationed in Moate; further, is he aware that these men, previous to joining the Army, were the whole support of the house? Volunteer James Killeen contributed £1 16s. and Volunteer Francis Killeen gave £2 weekly to their mother and if, in view of this, this claim will be speedily dealt with?
Mrs. Killeen's claims were received early in March, and have since been under local investigation. The claim in respect of Volunteer James Killeen has now been assessed at the rate of 7s. per week. The other is still receiving attention.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that dependents' allowance has not been paid to Mrs. Ellen Collins, Clara Road, Moate, in respect of her son, Sergeant Thomas Collins, now serving with the National Army in Roscommon; further, if he is aware that this man, previous to enlisting, was the chief support of his mother, who has a family of seven young children and is in delicate health—contributing £2 1s. 8d. towards her upkeep, and if, in view of this, the Minister will have this case attended to without delay?
No application has been received for dependents' allowance from Mrs. Collins, but on the information conveyed in the question the case is being investigated.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that dependents' allowance has not been paid to Mrs. Hughes, Arch House, Coosan, Athlone, in respect of her son, Volunteer Leo Hughes (No. 22,320 A.M.C.), who joined the National Army in April, 1922, and is at present stationed at Castlebar? Further, if he is aware that Mrs. Hughes' house was burned owing to the activity of her sons in the Anglo-Irish war, and, as this woman is now almost destitute, will the Minister see that allowance is granted?
Mrs. Hughes' claim for dependents' allowance was disallowed on the ground that her son, on whom she was not solely depending, did not contribute to her support for at least four months prior to his enlistment.
asked the Minister for Defence what was the reason for the disallowance of the claim for dependent's allowance by Mrs. Jane Carton, 12 Brookfield Place, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, in respect of her son, Private William Carton, No. 208, C Coy., 55th Battalion, Kehoe Barracks, Dublin, who joined the Army on the 15th July, 1922, and whether, in view of a statement by the mother that her son gave her 50s. weekly when at home, he will have further inquiry made into the case?
Mrs. Carton's claim was disallowed on the ground that her son, on whom she was not solely depending, did not contribute regularly to her support for about twelve months prior to his enlistment. The case was investigated locally, and there appears to be no reason for making further inquires.
asked the Minister for Defence whether a dependent's allowance has yet been made to Mrs. E. Kyne, 76 Lower Salt Hill, Galway, on account of her son, Corporal Peter Kyne, who joined the National Army on February 1st, 1922, and is now attached to D Coy., 5th Battalion, Cork Command, stationed at Macroom; if payment has not yet been made will he see that this claim receives immediate attention?
No application has been received from Mrs. Kyne for dependent's allowance, but on the information conveyed in the question the case is being investigated.
asked the Minister for Defence whether a dependents' allowance has yet been paid to Mrs. Annie Larkin, of Gortmahon, Cappatagle, Ballinasloe, on account of her son, John Larkin (10,525), who enlisted in the National Army some twelve months ago, and if not, will he see that her claim receives immediate attention?
The claim of Mrs. Larkin, who was partially dependent on her son, was disallowed on the ground that the extent of dependence, which in the case of an unmarried soldier is taken to be the amount normally contributed by a soldier to his home over and above the cost of his own maintenance therein for a reasonable period prior to enlistment, was less than the minimum specified by the regulations, that is, 12s. per week before an allowance may be issued.
I should add that the regulations are based on a recognition of an obligation on the part of an unmarried soldier to contribute to the support of his dependents a reasonable portion of his Army pay, this portion being calculated as 8s per week in the case of a soldier receiving ordinary rates of pay.