asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that marriage allowance has been withheld from wives of soldiers who were not provided with marriage quarters in barracks, and whose wives for family reasons resided outside the State; and if, having regard to the dicta of the Constitution relating to the importance of the family, he will take the necessary steps, either by amendment or by interpretation of the regulations governing marriage allowance, to ensure that the marriage allowances so withheld will be paid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Soldiers' Marriage Allowances.
Marriage allowance is a contribution towards the cost of maintenance and accommodation of a soldier's family and as such it is paid to the wives of all soldiers on the married establishment irrespective of their places of residence provided that they are not separated from their husbands for reasons other than the exigencies of Army service.
If a soldier had been resident in Great Britain and left his home in that country to enlist in the Defence Forces, marriage allowance is paid to his wife even if she continues to reside in Great Britain.
If a soldier's family resides in Ireland and if his wife, who previously resided in Great Britain, returns to live with her own relations on account of a serious breakdown in the state of her health, she would still be paid marriage allowance, or if she returns to Great Britain for domestic reasons of a temporary nature, for example, to take care of a sick relative, payment of her allowance would continue for a period of three months.
If, however, a soldier's wife has been living in Ireland and she goes to Great Britain to obtain employment it cannot be contended that her separation from her husband is due to the exigencies of Army service and in such a case the payment of her allowance is stopped. It is not agreed that in such a case where the wife leaves her husband, her home and her family, the stoppage of payment of her allowance is not consonant with recognition of the importance of the family unit, and it is not proposed to alter the existing regulations or procedure in this connection.
Mr. Larkin
Supposing a woman goes into the Six Counties from the Twenty-Six Counties, would she be entitled to get the marriage allowance?
In any of the circumstances which I have mentioned, she would.
Mr. Larkin
The payment of marriage allowance does not necessarily follow the marriage?
I have just given the complete details of how it would apply and when it would apply.