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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Dec 1948

Vol. 113 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Soldiers' Credits.

asked the Minister for Defence if notification of the amount of moneys standing to the credit of officers and soldiers of the Defence Forces is sent to each officer and soldier concerned periodically; and, if not, whether he will arrange to have this notification issued at least once each year and on termination of service.

asked the Minister for Defence if he will state what is the total amount of money standing to the credit of officers and soldiers and unclaimed by them, as at 1/4/1948.

With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 37 together.

Officers are paid their net entitlements of pay and allowances monthly and an explanatory statement is supplied with each payment showing how the amount has been computed. The question of unclaimed credits does not, therefore, arise in the case of officers.

For certain administrative reasons soldiers are not informed periodically of moneys standing to their credit. They are, however, supplied with pay books in which all payments are entered and by reference to which they can ascertain their position at any time. They can also obtain, on request, a detailed statement of their accounts. I have no reason to suppose that soldiers are not kept acquainted with the position of their accounts by means of the facilities at present at their disposal, but I will consider the question of notifying credit balances at least once a year.

There is no periodic clearing of balances from soldiers' pay accounts and a soldier may, for personal reasons or as a means of saving, allow credits to accumulate in his account. Such credits are paid on termination of service, or earlier, if desired by the soldier. The amount standing to the credit of soldiers as at 1st April, 1948, was £7,635.

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