asked the Minister for Defence if dependents' allowance will be granted to Mrs. Mary Callaghan, Springfield, Mullingar, in respect of her son, Patrick Callaghan, who served ten months in the National Army, and whether, as he was her sole support, owing to the fact that her husband is an inmate of Westmeath Mental Hospital, special consideration will be given in this case.
WRITTEN ANSWERS - DEPENDENTS' ALLOWANCE (MULLINGAR).
Mrs. Callaghan's claim has been disallowed on the ground that the amount normally contributed by her son towards the maintenance of the home for a reasonable period prior to enlistment was less than the minimum required by the regulations, namely, 12s. per week, before an allowance might be issued. I regret that it is not practicable to do anything special in the case.