asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (a) the number of special allowances granted to former members of the Irish Republican Army and of Cumann na mBan under the Army Pensions Act, 1946; (b) the number of recipients who have died; (c) the number at present in receipt of allowances; (d) the average of the amounts granted; (e) the total cost per annum, and (f) the approximate cost per annum of increasing the allowances of the present recipients by 25 per cent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Pensions.
The number of special allowances granted under the Army Pensions Act, 1946, is 1,712. Of this number, 1,539 were members of the I.R.A. and 173 were members of Cumann na mBan. In 233 of these cases, the recipients have died, and the number of allowances at present on payment is 1,408. The average annual rate of allowance is £64. The total cost is £90,112. The approximate annual cost of increasing the present allowance by 25 per cent. would be £22,528.
In view of the fact that these men and women have to be proved to be destitute and incapable of supporting themselves before they qualify for this allowance, would the Minister not now consider it a reasonable request to increase the allowance for the sake of £22,000, since other persons in receipt of pensions have received increases within the past three years? Many of these people have died in the past few months because they could not provide themselves with proper nourishment, fuel or anything else.
I would be sorry to think that the previous Administration made such a blunder in the introduction of this Act that anybody was left to die for want of means. I regarded this Act, and I said so at the time it was introduced, as a very, very generous measure. It brought the income of a single individual up to a minimum of £80 per year and of a married individual to some pounds over £100 a year, irrespective of the cost of living. That does not mean that anyone should die for want of nourishment. The scheme is still there. It has been extended since the change of Government. The date for application has been altered and there has been a considerable influx of new applicants. I do not think it is reasonable to press for any further concessions in this matter.
Question No. 40.
This Bill was introduced in 1946. Does the Minister suggest that the cost of living is the same now?
Question No. 40.
That is what the present Government thinks of the I.R.A.