asked the Minister for Defence whether he has received any claim from the next-of-kin of Charles McDonagh, who died from disease contracted on service with the National Forces; whether any assistance was given this man during his long illness, and whether it is intended to contribute towards his funeral expenses.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CLAIM BY A SOLDIER'S NEXT-OF-KIN.
A claim under the Army Pensions Act, 1923, was received from the mother of the late Charles McDonagh. As death was not the result of a wound or injury the claim was outside the scope of the Act, and Mrs. McDonagh was so informed. It is regretted that it was not practicable to provide assistance for Mrs. McDonagh during her son's illness, nor to make any contribution towards defrayment of the funeral expenses.
Is there no possibility of meeting this case of undoubted hardship where a man who joined the Army, presumably with a clean bill of health, contracted disease on service, and has then to depend on the old age pension of his father?
No, there is no regulation at present. Mr. McDonagh was discharged on the 9/8/23, and I think he died more than a year afterwards.
Does the Minister dispute that he died from disease contracted on service?
I could not say where the disease was contracted.
Is there no fund to provide burial expenses for men who served in the Army?
No, if they do not die in the Army.