asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the conditions in regard to pay, ration allowance, marriage allowance and children's allowance under which volunteers in the Marine and Coast-Watching Services are employed; whether they are entitled to marriage allowance and children's allowance for the period they are in training each year; whether those joining for a five-year period are entitled to a volunteer's bonus at the end of each financial year; and whether, in case of sickness, they are entitled to free medical service by civilian doctors in cases where there is no local military doctor.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marine and Coast-Watching Services.
I assume that the question relates to volunteers of the Marine Service who are employed as coast-watchers. The rates of pay of these personnel are the same as apply to volunteers of other units, and are as follows:—
|
1st class privates |
2/6 a day. |
|
2nd class privates |
2/3 a day. |
|
3rd class privates |
2/- a day. |
|
4th class privates |
2/- a day. |
|
Corporal |
4/- a day. |
They are paid a special allowance of 3/- a day in lieu of rations and accommodation with an additional 2d. a day if fuel for the heating of the look-out posts cannot be supplied from Army stocks. They are not entitled to marriage allowance or children's allowance, nor to a bonus or gratuity while in Army service. They would, however, in common with volunteers of other units, be entitled to a gratuity in respect of periods of Reserve service.
Volunteers of the Marine Service are entitled to treatment at public expense by civilian doctors in cases where there is no local military doctor available.