asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (a) the total number of applications for service certificates received by him to date under Section 7 of the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934; (b) the number of such applications investigated to date by the referee and reported upon to the Minister in accordance with Section 8 of the Act; (c) the number of applicants in regard to whom the referee has reported—(1) that they are applicants to whom the Act applies; (2) that they are not applicants to whom the Act applies; (d) the number of applicants in each grade to whom service certificates have been granted under Section 10 of the Act; (e) the number of persons in each rank to whom pensions are now payable under Section 11 of the Act and (f) the average amount of pension granted to applicants in (1) rank A, (2) rank B, (3) rank C, (4) rank D, and (5) rank E.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Military Service Pensions Act, 1934.
In reply to the Deputy's various questions:
|
(a) Total number of applications for service certificates to date |
56,193 |
|
(b) Total number of applications reported on by the referee |
4,437 |
|
(c) Number of applicants in regard to whom the referee has reported that:— |
|
|
(1) they are applicants to whom the Act applies |
4,373 |
|
(2) they are not applicants to whom the Act applies |
64 |
|
(d) Number of applicants in each grade to whom service certificates have been granted |
|
|
Grade A |
19 |
|
B |
37 |
|
C |
293 |
|
D |
1,154 |
|
E |
2,814 |
|
(e) Number of persons in each grade to whom pensions are now payable— |
|
|
Grade A |
19 |
|
,, B |
36 |
|
,, C |
287 |
|
,, D |
1,130 |
|
,, E |
2,745 |
|
(f) Average amount of pension granted to applicants in |
|||
|
Grade A |
£223 |
12 |
6 |
|
,, B |
£146 |
6 |
8 |
|
,, C |
£91 |
15 |
4 |
|
,, D |
£48 |
17 |
1 |
|
,, E |
£19 |
7 |
0 |
asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that Mr. Seámus McGowan, 3 Blessington Cottages, Botanic Avenue, Dublin, in April, 1936, lodged an appeal against the award to him under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, of a pension calculated on the basis of seven and a half years' service as a private in the Irish Citizen Army; whether he is aware that Mr. McGowan, who is an old 1916 man, refused to accept the award made to him on the grounds that he had, in fact, 14 years' service for the purpose of the Act, and that he had held officer rank; whether he is aware that evidence in support of Mr. McGowan's contention was submitted more than a year and a half ago, but that no decision has been promulgated so far, and, if he will state what action he proposes taking to obtain an early decision on this appeal, especially in view of the fact that Mr. McGowan has been unemployed for a very considerable time, and is depending solely on unemployment assistance for his maintenance.
Mr. McGowan's appeal against the findings of the referee in regard to his application under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, has been reconsidered. An amended service certificate based on the revised findings of the referee was sent to him on the 22nd October last.
asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that Mr. Walter Carpenter, 169 Parnell Street (Record No. 8789), an applicant for a pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, was called before the board on February 19th, 1936; whether he is aware that in the interval of more than 21 months no communication has been made to Mr. Carpenter respecting his claim, and whether he will state the cause of the delay in dealing with the matter, and what steps he proposes taking to expedite the decision.
I understand that the referee has now reached a decision in this case, and that the usual statutory notice was issued to the applicant advising him of the findings in his case.
Will the Minister say when this notice was issued to the applicant?
It was issued on the 29th.
Will the Minister give an assurance that, in the case of Citizen Army applicants, they will not be kept waiting by the board until a question appears on the Order Paper in the Dáil?
A question on the Order Paper has nothing whatever to do with the referee's report.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (a) the number of applications received from County Westmeath under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, to the 31st October, 1937; (b) the number of claims considered to above date, and (c) the number of pensions awarded and amounts paid in the various grades to 31st October, 1937, and the names of recipients.
Owing to the large number of applications received under the Act it is not practicable to state the number of applications received from the County Westmeath and the number considered to the 31st October last. A statement showing the names of persons in County Westmeath to whom pensions have been awarded under the Act and the grade and the amount of pension in each case is being prepared and will be forwarded to the Deputy in a few days.
asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that Thomas Kane, 15 Old Camden Street, Dublin, a member of the Old Citizen Army, in November, 1935, made an application for a service pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934; that Mr. Kane has not yet been called for an interview, nor any indication given when his application will be dealt with, and if he will state what is the cause of the delay in having the application for a pension dealt with.
An application under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, has been received from Thomas Kane, 15, Old Camden Street, Dublin, and is at present under investigation by the referee.
asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that Mr. Michael Kelly, Liberty Hall, Dublin, made an application in December, 1935, for a pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934; whether he is aware that so far this application has not yet been considered or dealt with, and if he is in a position to state what is the cause of the delay in dealing with this case.
An application under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, has been received from Mr. Michael O'Kelly, Liberty Hall, Dublin, and is at present under investigation by the referee.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the names of all the applicants for military service pensions from County Clare who have up to date been granted such pensions together with a statement of the amount granted in each case and the rank on which each grant of pension is based.
A list is being prepared and will be forwarded to the Deputy in the course of a few days.