asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the authority under which financial provision is made in respect of persons serving in the Local Defence Force, the Local Security Force and A.R.P. or other emergency services for the payment of compensation in respect of death or personal injury suffered while on official duty, and if he will say the amount of weekly pension or other payment proper to be paid (1) in the case of (a) death, and (b) permanent injury caused to a person with a wife and five dependent children, and (2) in the case of permanent injury caused to an unmarried person without dependent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emergency Services—Compensation for Personal Injury.
Financial provision for the payment of compensation in respect of death or personal injury suffered by members of Air-Raid Precautions services while on duty has been made under the authority of Section 64 of the Air-raid Precautions Act, 1939, as amended by Emergency Powers (No. 99) Order, 1941.
Similar provision for members of the Local Defence Force and the Local Security Force has been made under the authority of Articles 17 and 33, respectively, of the Emergency Powers (No. 61) Order, 1940. So far as the current financial year is concerned the necessary moneys have been made available under sub-head L of the Vote for Superannuation and Retired Allowances.
Members of other emergency services would as civilians come within the scope of the Emergency Powers (No. 98) Order, 1941 (Compensation) Scheme, 1941. No financial provision has as yet been made for compensation payable under this scheme, but an additional Estimate to make moneys available in this connection will be introduced without delay. The question of including certain of the other emergency services within the scope of the Air Raid Precautions services scheme is under consideration.
The compensation payable in the cases cited by the Deputy would be as follows:—
(1) Where a person with a wife and five dependent children was killed:— Assuming that the widow and children were totally dependent on the deceased, a lump sum to the widow of an amount equal to her husband's earnings during the three years previous to his death, but not less than £200 or more than £300, together with a lump sum to the children of an amount depending on their ages, but not exceeding £600; always provided that the total compensation payable to the widow and to the children would not in any case exceed £600.
(2) Where a person with a wife and five dependent children was injured:— A payment bearing the same relation to 30/- a week as his degree of disablement bears to 100 per cent.
(3) Where an unmarried person without dependant was killed:— The reasonable expenses of his medical attendance and burial, subject to an overriding limit of £15 in all.
(4) Where an unmarried person without dependant was injured:—A payment bearing the same relation to 30/- a week as his degree of disablement bears to 100 per cent.