asked the Minister for Defence if he will state what steps are being taken by his Department to acquaint members of the pre-truce I.R.A. at home and abroad with the procedure for applying for medals and, where necessary, for applying for special allowances in cases of disability.
Written Answers. - I.R.A. Medals.
Mr. Boland
The extension of the time limit and the procedure for applying for medals were prominently advertised in the three Dublin daily newspapers and in the provincial Press. It was also announced over Radio Éireann on three occasions.
In addition, the Department of External Affairs was requested to bring the matter to the notice of the various Irish organisations in the United States of America.
No special steps are being taken by my Department to acquaint the holders of medals of the procedure for applying for special allowances in cases of disability, but where a successful applicant for a medal indicates that he is unable to earn his livelihood by reason of disability, a form of application for a special allowance is issued to him.
I understood you, Sir, to express some doubt as to whether the matters referred to in Question No. 4 were matters within the scope of the Minister's authority. I omitted to point out to you that 25 per cent. of our secondary school-going children are prevented, by reason of the matters referred to in the question, from competing for these university scholarships, and I submit that, in so far as the interests of these children come within the scope of the activities of the Minister's Department, it is a matter I am entitled to raise.
It would constitute an interference with the university, which is autonomous. However, I will consider it.
My submission is that, in so far as the interests of 25 per cent. of the secondary school-going population are affected, they come within the scope of the Minister's Department.
I will consider it.