asked the Minister for Defence if he will state in respect of (a) the West Clare Brigade I.R.A., (b) the Mid-Clare Brigade I.R.A., (c) the East Clare Brigade I.R.A. (1) how many applications were received for military service pensions; (2) how many applicants have been examined by the board, and (3) how many military service pensions have been granted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Military Service and Disability Pensions.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the number of military service pensions awarded to Volunteers in each of the battalions of the Dublin Brigade.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the number of military service pensions awarded in respect of the following ranks in the Dublin Brigade: (a) Brigade Commandants, (b) Battalion Commandants, (c) Captains, (d) First Lieutenants, and (e) Second Lieutenants.
Taking Questions Nos. 32, 36 and 37 together, the records in my Department are not compiled in such a way as to enable the details required by the Deputies to be furnished without the expenditure of time and energy on the part of officials dealing with pension claims, which I do not think would be justified in present circumstances. If, however, the Deputies wish to have the particulars asked for in regard to counties they will be furnished as soon as possible.
Did not the Minister say in reply to another question that he was prepared to give this information for brigade areas?
If the brigade area corresponds with the county.
The three brigade areas I mentioned correspond with the County Clare.
I shall give the Deputy particulars for the county if he wishes.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (1) the total number of pensions granted to date under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, and (2) the total payments made in respect of such pensions in each of the years 1934/5, 1935/6, 1936/7; (3) the total number of cases decided in respect of which no payment has been made; (4) the total number of awards appealed against; and (5) the number of appeals heard over (a) six months ago, (b) five months ago, (c) four months ago, (d) three months ago, (e) two months ago, (f) one month ago in which no decision has been promulgated.
In reply to the Deputy's several questions:
(1) The total number of awards made to date under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, is 4,155.
(2) The total payments made in respect of such pensions are as follows:—
|
In the financial year 1934/5 |
£457 |
16 |
0 |
|
In the financial year 1935/6 |
£54,305 |
2 |
9 |
|
In the financial year 1936/7 |
£164,845 |
13 |
2 |
(3) There are 131 cases in which favourable reports have been made, but in which the pensions are not yet actually under payment pending the completion of the usual administrative formalities. These cases should all be under payment in the course of about ten days.
(4) and (5) As the referee and advisory committee are constantly dealing with appeals, it would be difficult to give the information required by the Deputy with any degree of accuracy.
With regard to paragraph 5 of the question, I wonder if the Minister could obtain that information at any convenient given date so that it would be available to Deputies who are interested in the matter.
It would be very difficult to do that.
Would the Minister agree to fix a date next week and say what the position is then? It should not be difficult to do that. The Minister could check up the number of appeals extant at that date.
I should have to inquire into the possibility of doing that.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state when it is proposed to decide the claim for a disability pension made by John Murphy, 2 Fairview Terrace, Bray, County Wicklow, on March 14th, 1935, and whether he will take steps to hasten the decision in this case in view of the poor circumstances of Mr. Murphy, who is at present a patient in the Hospice for the Dying.
No application for a disability pension has been received from John Murphy, 2 Fairview Terrace, Bray.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state if any decision has been reached regarding the claim for a disability pension made by Michael O'Dowd, Ten-Mile-Road, Kilencarrig, Delgany, County Wicklow, and when it is expected a pension will become payable in this case.
The Military Service Registration Board has experienced considerable difficulty in dealing with the application of Michael O'Dowd, but it is hoped that a final decision will be reached therein in a short time.