asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware of the effect of the existing regulations governing marriage allowance for soldiers' wives, and if he will state the Government's proposals in the matter.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ARMY DEPENDENT'S ALLOWANCES.
DOMHNALL O MUIRGHEASA
asked the Minister for Defence if he is in a position to state what decision has been arrived at in connection with payment of dependents' allowance to the wives of members of the National Army who were married after October, 1923.
I am not aware of any abnormal effects being caused by the present regulations. Paragraph 25 of Defence Order No. 30, dated the 8th October last, authorises the issue of marriage allowance to re-attested soldiers who had been married prior to that date. It is not intended to revise the rates set out in that Order, of which I am sending copies to the Deputies concerned. As the Order was not quickly promulgated, a later regulation fixed the 9th November last as the date before which men were required to have been married in order to be entitled to an allowance. That date will not be altered until regulations, which are under consideration, are issued showing the percentage of married men that may be borne on the strength of units of the Army. That percentage may not exceed and may even be less than the existing percentage of married soldiers.
Arising out of the President's answer, will the President say if those different Army Orders are brought to the notice of the men from time to time?
Yes, I understand that is the case; they are brought to their notice.
Will the Minister say in what manner are they brought to their notice?
I understand it is through the Officer Commanding their Unit.
Will the Minister state whether these Army Orders are published in the Battalion Orders, which would be the best way of bringing them to the notice of the men?
I will inquire into that.