asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that three brothers, Andrew, Thomas, and William Colgan, of Rahan, Tullamore, resigned from the late R.I.C. force, through national sympathies, in June, July, and October, 1920, after 8½, 11, and 14½ years' service, respectively; that a Commission was appointed by the Government in November to inquire into such cases, and that they were amongst the number whose cases were approved by the Commission as being entitled to pensions or compensation, and, that, up to now, they have received no such pensions or compensation; whether, in view of the fact that they are in very straitened circumstances, being unable to get work and having been refused admission to the Civic Guard, although passed as medically fit, he will take steps to have them speedily granted the pensions or compensation to which they are entitled, and, furthermore, whether he cannot throw open vacancies in the Civic Guard to them and other men in similar circumstances?
WRITTEN ANSWERS. - RESIGNED R.I.C.
Regulations governing the grant of pensions, allowances or gratuities to such ex-members of the R.I.C. whose resignations or dismissals are certified in the manner prescribed by the Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1923, are at present under consideration, and I am not in a position to give any information regarding the grant of individual pensions. As regards those portions of the questions dealing with admission to the Civic Guard, I would suggest that the Deputy should address them to the Minister for Home Affairs.
asked the Minister for Finance when the pensions which are to be, or have been granted to the ex-members of the R.I.C. who resigned from that force for national reasons during the pre-Truce period will be paid, and whether any arrangements have been made for the relief of those ex-members of the R.I.C. who may be in need owing to the delay in granting those pensions.
No pensions can be granted to ex-members of the R.I.C. who resigned or were dismissed from that force on account of their national sympathies until the regulations prescribed by the Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1923, have been approved by resolution of this House. The regulations are at present under consideration.
asked the Minister for Finance whether, in the interests of economy, it is the intention of the Government that employment be found in Government services for ex-members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who resigned their positions for national reasons, at salaries which would place them in positions at least equal financially to those which they vacated.
In framing regulations under the Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1923, due regard will be had to possible reduction of pension charge in the event of a pensioner entering Government employment.