asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the number of applicants for military service pensions who were interviewed by (a) the referee, and (b) the board appointed under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, in each of the years 1936 to 1940 inclusive, and the total number interviewed; and, further, whether he will state the number of applicants interviewed in 1936 and in each subsequent year in respect of whose applications no decision has been promulgated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Military Service Pensions.
Since 1936 the referee And Advisory Committee have not made a practice of interviewing applicants for military service pensions. This duty has been carried out by interviewing officers responsible to the referee. It was never the practice of the referee to examine by interview applicants apart from the board.
The number of applicants interviewed in each of the years in question is as follows:—
|
Year. |
Number Interviewed. |
|
1936 |
2,456 |
|
1937 |
3,966 |
|
1938 |
3,281 |
|
1939 |
4,305 |
|
1940 to 30th September, 1940 |
3,454 |
|
Total |
17,462 |
The number of reports issued by the referee is 23,283, and this figure includes, in addition to some of the cases interviewed, cases in which no interview has taken place. It is not, therefore, possible to state exactly how many of the cases interviewed have been reported on.
It has not been the practice to corelate the number of reports made by the referee in any one year with the number of applicants interviewed in any one year.
asked the Minister for Defence if he is yet in a position to state when it is intended to introduce proposals for legislation to amend the Army Pensions Acts in order to extend the date for the submission of applications.
It is hoped to introduce, during the present session, legislation amending the Anny Pensions Acts in order to extend the date for submission of applications under the Acts of 1932 and 1937.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that a reply somewhat similar and apparently just as meaningless has already been given on this subject, and would he indicate the cause of the delay in introducing a short amendment to existing legislation to provide for an extension of the date? I think that the Minister is aware of the fact that one very well-known case is that of the mother of Liam Mellowes, which is affected by legislation and, as this lady is in very poor health and is in by no means comfortable circumstances, perhaps the Minister would endeavour to have a Bill introduced without delay.
I am pressing the matter forward.
Would the Minister also consider extending the scope of his amendment to include one whose service compares with that of the late Liam Mellowes, and who is now in his ninth decade and is without any means of subsistence at all—one of the last surviving Fenians in this country; so that he also may share in the public bounty at the end of a long and honourable life, instead of becoming a charge on public funds?
I am afraid that that particular case would not come within the scope of the resolution that I would be bringing in.
asked the Minister for Defence whether he is yet in a position to state when a decision will be conveyed to Mr. J.S. O'Connor, Elm Hall, Celbridge, County Kildare, in respect of his application for a pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934.
asked the Minister for Defence whether he is yet in a position to state when a decision will be conveyed to Mr. P. Healy, Oakley Park, Celbridge, County Kildare, in respect of his application for a pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934.
I will take Nos. 20 and 21 together.
On the evidence before him, the findings of the Referee on the applications made under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, by Mr. John Stephen O'Connor and Mr. Patrick Healy are that the applicants are not persons to whom the Act is applicable. They will be notified of the findings at an early date.