asked the Minister for Defence if he will state on what grounds the Board of Assessors refused to grant a pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1924, to Mr. Arthur Dunne, c/o Mr. Patrick Nolan, Rathbran, Stratford-on-Slaney, Co. Wicklow.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - WICKLOW MILITARY PENSIONS CLAIM.
DOMHNALL O MUIRGHEASA
A military service pension may be granted by the Minister for Defence, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, only to an applicant who satisfies the Board of Assessors that he rendered at least the pre-Truce and post-Truce active military service prescribed in Sub-section (4) of Section 2 of the Military Service Pensions Act, 1924. Mr. Dunne did not establish a claim in respect of the necessary pre-Truce service, namely, active military service in the week commencing the 23rd April, 1916, or throughout either the period from the 1st April, 1920, to the 31st March, 1921, or the period from the 1st April, 1921, to the 11th July, 1921. I regret that I am therefore precluded by the Board's report as it stands from granting him a pension. He was so informed on the 16th instant.
Is the Minister aware that the man in question was a member of the Volunteers since 1917, and that the fact that he had been on active service during that term has been testified to by the men who were, during that period, the commanding officers of the battalion that he was attached to? Will the Minister undertake to make further inquiries into this matter?
I am not aware of what evidence was placed before the Board of Assessors, but upon the evidence that was placed before them the Board have come to that conclusion. If the person concerned has any further evidence to offer, the matter will be inquired into if he sends it to the Minister, but if he has not any further evidence to offer there is no use in going into it again.