asked the Minister for Defence whether the allowance paid to Mrs. Cooke, of Dun Laoghaire, whose husband, Volunteer Arthur Cooke, No. 11540, Army Transport Corps, died of iheumatism contracted on Army service on January 5th, 1924, is to be discontinued from the 5th instant; and whether, in view of the fact that Mrs. Cooke has three small children and no means of support, he will sanction a continuance of the allowance until a Pension Act is passed to deal with such cases.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DISCONTINUANCE OF ARMY ALLOWANCE.
The issue of dependent's allowance to Mrs. Cooke had to be discontinued from the 5th instant. In accordance with regulations, it has been paid for six months subsequent to her husband's decease. His death was caused by cardiac asthma, which, it appears, was the outcome of a weakness of long standing. In the circumstances I regret that it is not practicable to continue payment of the allowance.
Is the Minister aware that this woman has three children under four years of age, one of whom was born subsequent to her husband's death, and in view of the fact that the widow claims he contracted the disease which caused his death through sleeping in damp clothes while on active service, will the President have inquiries made into the case?
Is the President aware that this is only one of three cases in which it has been proved that members of the Army died from rheumatism contracted on military service?
However willing the Minister might be to do so, he is not empowered by any statute to award a pension in such cases. I may add that consideration of such cases as this is one of the matters before the Committee, and I hope to be able to introduce an amending Bill. I am not altogether sanguine of it, but in any event it would not be possible to get it beyond the First or Second Reading this session.
I would ask the President how are the people to live in the meantime? Is this woman to take her children to the poorhouse?
I think I heard somebody say "hear, hear." I would like to know how it is possible for us to pass an amending Act with the business we have to get through?
Has the Minister not power to continue the present allowance in cases like this until such a Bill is brought forward?
I do not think so.
Could the Government not furnish some temporary fund out of which these people could be relieved in the meantime?
The Deputy could have amended the Wound Pensions Bill when it was passing through last year, and he did not do so.
What I suggest—a temporary fund—was done by the British.