asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that Mrs. A. Walshe, Fair Green, Naas, Co. Kildare, has received no separation allowance in respect of her son, Peter Walshe (application No. A.F. 5616, Dependants Allowance Branch, Portobello Barracks), who joined the Army on the 25th September, 1922, and is at present stationed at Tallaght Camp, Co. Dublin; and whether the Minister will have inquiries made with a view to granting an allowance, and thus relieve this woman and her four daughters who are in very poor health.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - SEPARATION ALLOWANCE CLAIM.
Mrs. Walshe's application for an allowance in respect of her son Peter was disallowed after due investigation 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 him to his home over and above the cost of his own maintenance therein for a reasonable period prior to enlistment, and it was less than the minimum required by regulations—namely, 12s. per week, before an allowance may be issued. The amount in this case was about 10s. per week. It should be stated, however, 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 dependants at least 8s. per week in the case of a soldier receiving ordinary rates of pay, and it should be added that Mrs. Walshe is receiving an allowance of 28s. a week in respect of another son.