asked the Minister for Defence whether the Government will be prepared to pay the funeral expenses, in cases where such is necessary, of veterans of 1916 and of the war of independence; and also to accord military honours at their funerals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Funeral Expenses of 1916 Veterans.
Defence Force regulations do not provide for the payment of funeral expenses of, or the affording of military honours to, veterans of 1916 and of the war of independence who are not at the time of their death members of the Defence Forces, and I do not propose to extend the scope of the regulations to include such cases.
However, on application being made to the officer commanding the local command, rifles are made available and blank ammunition is issued for ceremonial purposes at the burial of members of the Old I.R.A. The cost of the ammunition and the cost of transporting the rifles (with or without a protection party) is borne by public funds on the understanding that the equipment is obtained from the nearest military station or post at which it can be made available.
Will the Minister not further consider the question in regard to the expenses of funerals? Already we have had one case where a veteran of 1916 would have been buried in a pauper's grave had it not been for the comradeship of an industrial organisation of which he was a former member.