The main impression left on my mind after yesterday's debate was that the House was in a rather generous mood. The only thing I have to say about that is that I hope at some later date, when the question of national expenditure is being considered, Deputies will remember their generosity on this occasion. In general, I feel like most of the Deputies in respect to providing, wherever it is possible, the extra emoluments that have been asked for. Of course, Deputies will have to understand that what we desire and what we get are sometimes two different things. I am afraid a large number of the Deputies of this House are not in fact aware of what has been done in recent years. For instance, we had Deputy Cafferky yesterday saying something to the effect that the reason why recruitment was not up to the mark was because the conditions obtaining in the Army were such as they were. He went further to say that the Minister would be very well employed if he tried to do something for the private soldier. Deputy Cafferky is a new member of this House and it is quite possible that he made the statement without being aware of what has been done. That is why I am going to set out to enlighten him and any of the other new Deputies who may be in a similar position. Since September, 1939, the following improvements have been effected:—
Pay:—As on and from the 29th September, 1942, all privates and seamen have had their pay increased by 6d. a day or 3/6 a week. In addition to the increased pay for privates and seamen, the pay account of every non-commissioned officer and man is being credited with the sum of 6d. a day for every day of paid service as on and from the 29th September, 1942. This pay, which is known as deferred pay, will be held for each non-commissioned officer and man, and will be paid over after the termination of the emergency. Each man will then receive £9 2s. 6d. for every complete year of service from the 29th September, 1942. So that for each year of service that a soldier may have to his credit be is receiving £9 2s. 6d. That, in some respect, may be regarded as a safeguard for that soldier when his time comes to be demobilised. It will, at least, see him over the most difficult period and, from that point of view, whatever criticisms may have been levelled at the question of deferred pay, it has the good quality, anyhow, that it will be there to the soldier's credit and will be a means of protecting him over a difficult period.
Since August, 1941, a married non-commissioned officer or soldier to whom marriage allowance is payable has received the following weekly increases, according to the size of his family:— a wife only has received 3/6 increase on 7/- a week; a wife and one child has received an increase of 3/6 on 14/-; a wife and two children 7/- on 17/6; a wife and three children 8/9 on 19/3; a wife and four or more children 8/9 on 21/-.
Deputies are at this stage well aware of what the former procedure was in relation to marriage allowances. As from June, 1942, lodging, fuel and light allowances are issued to married officers who have two years' service and who are over 23 years of age instead of five years' service and 26 years of age as previously. Further provisions for pensions for members of the Defence Forces who were disabled, wounded or died during the period of the emergency are operative since September, 1939, under the Army Pensions Act of 1943. Wound pensions for non-commissioned officers and men have been increased. The maximum weekly rates which will be payable as compared with the old rates are as follows: The old rate, as Deputies will remember, was £1 6s. Od. for a single man. That has been increased to £2 2s. Od. The old rate for a married man was £1 11s. 0d.; the new rate is £2 12s. Od. Disability pensions for officers, non-commissioned officers and men, which ceased to be payable in 1924, are to be payable again. The maximum pension for an officer of the highest rank will be £480 a year and the minimum £153. The maximum pension for a non-commissioned officer or soldier will be £2 12s. Od. week for a married man and £2 2s. Od. for a single man. Wound and disability pensions up to a maximum of £110 per annum will be payable to members of the Army Nursing Service. This is a new provision, as no pensions were payable to the members of this service previously. An annual allowance of £52 in the case of an officer and £26 in the case of a non-commissioned officer or soldier will be payable to the dependent father, mother, invalid brother or sister of a man whose death is attributable to service.
Medical treatment is now available to non-commissioned officers and men. Spectacles or dentures are also being issued to these men where they are required. Non-commissioned officers and soldiers who are serving on a 21-year engagement, and who have three or four years to serve, may now receive free sanatorium treatment if they contract tuberculosis. Up to December, 1941, only the wives and children of soldiers living in barracks, or within five miles of a military hospital, were eligible for free hospital treatment. Now, all wives and children, no matter where they live, will receive free hospital treatment. Since December, 1941, non-commissioned officers and men who are in receipt of a marriage allowance, or who are widowers with children for whom allowances are payable, and members of the Army Nursing Service may receive one free travelling warrant per year when going on leave to their homes in Ireland. Since 1941, soldiers are eligible to obtain two months' leave in any year for agricultural purposes, and free travelling facilities are provided here also. We have provided the Army Nursing Service with uniforms, and they can now be seen in the city at the various places where members of the service are stationed. A scheme of compensation for members of the L.D.F. killed or injured while on duty has been in existence since 1942. An increased scale of rations has been in operation since 1941 for soldiers engaged in field exercises, or on duties of a particularly laborious nature.
These are some of the things which have been done since the emergency. It is rather unfortunate that Deputies' memories appear to be so short when they forget that these things have been done. In respect of three of these things, the increase paid to privates, deferred pay, and the increased rates of marriage allowances, the cost to the State has been £750,000. I think that the House will have to consider very carefully, when they are making these generous proposals, which we would all like to grant if it were possible to meet them, what these proposals mean.
In the course of Deputy Cogan's remarks he referred to the fact that Deputy O'Higgins, speaking in the debate, took a certain line of action. It appeared to surprise him that a member of the Defence Conference should have taken that line of action although he stated he supported his line of action. He seemed to doubt then whether the Defence Conference was, in fact, in existence at all. I want to assure Deputy Cogan that the Defence Conference does meet and discuss matters appertaining to defence. They did, in fact, discuss and examine the Estimates which we are discussing here to-day. Further, I want to pay this tribute to the members of the Defence Conference, that they have on all occasions been very helpful to me. When I had to go to the Government to try to secure the increases which I was endeavouring to secure, the backing of the Defence Conference, I can assure the House, was very useful. The fact that I was able to express their views to the Government carried weight.
