asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that Old I.R.A. men who were granted pensions under the Disability Pensions Act and under the Special Allowance Scheme were subsequently disallowed these pensions owing to the fact that the means test was applied and operated against them, and whether in view of the hardship caused he will introduce proposals for legislation with a view to ensuring that justice is done to the men in question.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disallowing of Old I.R.A. Pensions.
I am aware that applications for special allowances have been disallowed on the ground that the means of the applicant exceeded the limit prescribed by statute. I do not, however, propose to introduce legislation which would disregard the means of persons who apply for special allowances.
Is the Minister aware that great hardship is caused to these men who are pronounced to be medically unfit and who, at the same time, are precluded from getting any allowance, owing to this means test, and will he not admit that something should be done to alleviate the hardships of numbers of these men throughout the country? If, under one machinery, the machinery of the Army Pensions Board, these men are declared to be unfit, and, under another machinery, are debarred from receiving any allowance, there is a miscarriage of justice.
The idea behind the whole scheme of special allowances is to alleviate such cases of hardship. It was welcomed and acclaimed by every section of this House. The scheme of special allowances is for medal holders who are incapable, by reason of infirmity or old age, to earn a living, and it is designed to bring their incomes up to a certain minimum. I think the Deputy, and Deputies generally, would agree that the idea of the scheme would be completely dislocated if means were to be ignored and these special allowances given to people who happen to have medals and incomes of £10,000 a year.
Mr. Flynn
I have in mind the case of a lorry driver who was declared medically unfit. He has a wife and four children and has no means whatever, but, simply because he got a temporary post in a garage for three months last year, the investigation officer reported against him, and he was debarred. That is the type of case I refer to and not that of the £10,000 a year man.
In the case of a wife and three children, this scheme makes provision for bringing the income up to £129 per year, but the whole scheme is based on the fact that the person is incapable of earning money, owing to old age or health condition. If the evidence is that the person is capable of earning money, you are going in direct conflict with the legislation, and, on the facts stated by the Deputy, that is the position.