asked the Minister for Defence whether, in view of the increased cost of living, and the consequent hardships inflicted on widows and children of deceased privates and non-commissioned officers, owing to the small pensions awarded, he will give early and favourable consideration to the question of amending the Army Pensions Acts so as to provide increased pensions for such persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Amendment of Army Pensions Acts.
It is not proposed to amend the Army Pensions Acts so as to provide increased allowances referred to by the Deputy.
Bearing in mind that the maximum pension allowed to the widow of a non-commissioned officer is 12/6 a week and the maximum sum allowed in respect of a child of a deceased non-commissioned officer is 4/- a week and having regard to the inadequacy of these allowances in present circumstances, will the Minister examine the matter sympathetically with a view to submitting proposals to the Government for a stepping up of these allowances, in view of the fact that widows' and orphans' allowances have been stepped up somewhat recently?
I think the Deputy is aware that the total amount of pensions payable under the Army Pensions Acts and the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts to the widow of a soldier who was a contributor under the latter is subject to an overriding maximum of the amount of marriage allowance and soldier's allotment of which she was in receipt before the death of her husband. In other words, she is getting the same allowance as she was getting when her husband was alive.
Provided he was a contributor.