asked the Minister for Defence if it is his intention to take the necessary steps to increase the allowance for children of married members of the Defence Forces.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allowances for Soldiers' Children.
Having regard to the increases which have already taken place since the commencement of the emergency in the allowance payable in respect of the wives and children of soldiers on the married establishment and to the fact that such soldiers will be eligible for allowances in respect of their children under the Children's Allowances Act, 1944, it is not proposed to increase the allowances to which the Deputy refers.
asked the Minister for Defence if he can state the number of soldier widowers at present serving in the Army; also, if he will state whether, in the case of soldiers who have lost their wives, and whose children are cared for by a guardian, a similar allowance as that paid to soldiers' wives will be paid to the guardian.
It would not be possible, without an examination of each soldier's records, to indicate the total number of widowers serving in the ranks, but the number of widower soldiers in respect of whose children allowances are at present being paid to approved guardians is 219. It is possible that there may be widower soldiers with no children, or with none under the age limits within which children's allowances are payable, and that also there may be widower soldiers who have not yet rendered two years' service and are, therefore, not at present eligible for allowance in respect of their dependent children, but the numbers of these cases are not recorded.
Provision has already been made for the payment, under certain conditions, of an allowance, equal to that payable to a soldier's wife, to the guardian of the dependent children of a widower soldier, and arrangements are at present being made for payment of this allowance to the guardian in any case where the prescribed conditions are fulfilled and the soldier claims payment of the allowance.
Could the Minister briefly state the prescribed conditions?
That the soldier has not remarried; that he contributes the ordinary allotment to the guardian which he would contribute to a wife; and that all the children are under the prescribed age of 16 years (boys) and 18 years (girls).