asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the number of applications received for pensions under the Connaught Rangers (Pensions) Act, 1936, the number of cases in which pensions have actually been paid to applicants and the dates of the payments in these cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Connaught Rangers (Pensions) Act.
One hundred and five applications have been received under the Connaught Rangers (Pensions) Act, 1936.
The number of awards made is as follows:—
Two long service pensions and one dependent's allowance.
One of the service pensions was paid on the 25th January. The other pension and the dependent's allowance were paid on the 13th instant.
Will the Minister bear in mind that this Act was passed in July, 1936, and that only three cases have as yet been dealt with, that is, three cases in a period of seven months? At that rate of progress it would take some years to dispose of all these claims. Surely something can be done to expedite the decision in these relatively simple cases.
Dr. Ryan
Of course, the rate of progress will be better from this date forward.