asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that married soldiers who are granted a month's leave to cultivate their plots or gardens have their allowance for wife and family cut during that period, and if he will investigate the matter and have it remedied.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Soldiers' Allowances.
Pay and allowances are not issuable under Defence Force Regulations to soldiers granted agricultural leave, and it is not proposed to alter the regulations in this respect.
When a soldier goes home to till his plot or garden, his family pay and allowances are reduced for that month. That is very poor encouragement to such soldiers.
They are not usually granted agricultural leave to attend the plots.