asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that an old age pensioner who was also in receipt of an Army service pension had the latter pension stoped as a result of the increase in old age pensions under the Social Welfare Act, 1948, with the result that her yearly income of £50 was reduced by over £5; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that actual loss is being incurred as a result of the 1948 Act, he will take action, whether by the introduction of proposals for legislation or otherwise, to have the Army service pension restored in this and similar cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Stoppage of Army Service Pension.
Mrs. Mullance was in receipt of a dependent's allowance under Section 37 of the Army Pensions Act, 1937, in respect of her deceased son, Jeremiah. The statutory condition for the grant of these allowances, which are subject to review not more frequently than once a year, is that the applicant's yearly means do not equal or exceed the sum of £40.
Mrs. Mullane's means are now £47 12s. 6d. per annum and as they exceed the prescribed limit of £40, the dependent's allowance has been terminated.
Is the Minister prepared to take any action to remedy this by way of introducing legislation or otherwise? That is the question I asked. He is aware that when this means test was brought in the cost of living was entirely different from what it is to-day.
I do not think the cost of living is any higher at the moment than it was when the Deputy was sitting behind the Government.
In 1937?
In 1941, 1942, 1945, 1946, 1947, but there was no move made by the Deputy to get the Act amended. However, since I became Minister, there has been a move made by me to amend the Act and I hope the result of the move will be before the Dáil in the next session.
If the Minister said that at first instead of reading out what he did, it would be better.
The Minister is bound by the rules of Dáil Éireann to reply to the question asked and then to reply to supplementaries. There is a specific reply there to the specific question asked. By way of supplementary, I was asked would I consider amending the Act and I replied to the supplementary.
In the question I asked the Minister would he take action, whether by the introduction of proposals for legislation or otherwise, to have the Army service pension restored in this and similar cases. I got no reply to that in the Minister's first answer.
Will the Minister say who was responsible for introducing these anomalies in the first instance? Was it the last Government, the Cumann na nGaedheal Government or the present Government?
The Cumann na nGaedheal Government voted against giving any pensions at all.
The Cumann na nGaedheal Government did not. They gave pensions on a fair basis, but the other Government did not.
To their own pets.
The statement made by Deputy Lemass was not true.