asked the Minister for Defence whether repeated applications have been made for dependants' allowance on behalf of Q.M.S.B. McCabe, Elmgrove, Ballivor, Co. Meath, now stationed at Kilcoyne Barracks, Co. Cork; why this allowance has not been paid; and whether the Minister will now expedite payment.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - MEATH SOLDIER'S DEPENDANTS' ALLOWANCE.
I appear to have received only two applications from the mother of Sergeant-Major McCabe, one of which was an appeal against the rejection of her claim. Her application for an allowance was disallowed after due investigation on the grounds 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 was less than the minimum required by regulations—namely, 12s. per week—before an allowance may be issued. It should be stated, however, that those regulations are based on the 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 8s. per week in the case of a soldier receiving ordinary rate of pay.