asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that Thomas Gaffney, of Camden Court, Dublin, on being awarded an I.R.A. service pension of 9/3 per week in September, 1941, had under the means test his old age pension of 10/- per week withdrawn; that the old age pension carried with it a food voucher valued 1/9, the result being a loss of 2/6 per week; if he will see that the application of Mr. Gaffney surrendering his I.R.A. pension is accepted, so as to permit him to secure the greater amount, and if he will state what steps he intends taking to prevent similar hardships arising in the future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Man's Pension.
Mr. Byrne
I was not aware that Mr. Gaffney's old age pension was withdrawn or of the consequent loss to him both as regards old age pension and value of food voucher, but I am advised that in law Mr. Gaffney cannot surrender his military service pension. I cannot, therefore, take any steps to prevent similar hardships arising in the future.
Mr. Byrne
Will the Minister answer the last part of the question and state whether he will see that hardships of this kind will not be inflicted if similar cases arise in future? This is the case of an old man in receipt of 10/- pension and a food voucher value 1/9, making a total of 11/9, who gets an I.R.A. pension of 9/3, and from whom the amount of 11/9 is stopped when he receives the pension of 9/3. That is not the way the country should reward its soldiers.
I am afraid the Deputy was not made fully aware of the facts of this case. This man is drawing another substantial pension, so that the military service pension is not altogether the point at issue. He also recently drew a retrospective amount in respect of a military service pension of £160 odd.
Mr. Byrne
The Minister has used words to suggest that I am not aware of the fact that this man is drawing another substantial pension. The substantial pension to which the Minister refers is a sum of 6/- per week from the railway after 40 years' service. Does the Minister consider 6/- a week a substantial pension? With the 9/3 and this 6/-, the man has only 15/3 to live on, and if, with that 15/3, he could get his old age pension, it would help a little. I ask the Minister to review the case. We had this man before us at the Old Age Pensions Committee and his total means of livelihood to-day is the sum of 15/3. He has lost 2/6 per week as a result of accepting the I.R.A. pension of 9/3, and he is aged 71.