asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the conditions under which serving members of forces are eligible for allowances for children and the amount of the allowance and, furthermore, if he will state the estimated annual cost of such allowances.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Children's Allowances.
As the reply to the Deputy's question is somewhat lengthy I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle and the consent of the Deputy to include it in the Official Report.
The following is the information requested by the Deputy:—
Prior to the 1st April, 1950, married officers in receipt of lodging, fuel and light allowance and having four or more children (including step-children) under the age of 16 years in the case of boys and 18 years in the case of girls were eligible for an allowance of 3/6 a week in respect of the fourth and each subsequent child. Married officers provided with public quarters were ineligible for the allowance. Since the introduction, on the 1st April, 1950, of the new consolidated rates of pay for officers, the children's allowance is payable only to officers who were in receipt of it on the 31st March, 1950. Each such officer continues to receive it, for so long as he has four or more children within the ages mentioned, in respect of the fourth and each subsequent child who was born before the 1st April, 1950, or who became his stepchild before that date.
Allowances for children (including step-children) are payable as portion of the marriage allowance for which N.C.O.s and privates are eligible on being admitted to the married establishment. The weekly rates of the allowances which are payable in respect of boys up to the age of 16 years and girls up to the age of 18 years, are:—
|
One child |
7/- |
|
Two children |
14/- |
|
Three children |
18/6 |
|
Each additional child |
4/6 |
The normal conditions rendering a soldier eligible for admission to the married establishment are that he has reached the age of 22 years, has rendered two years' service in the Forces and has received the prior permission of his commanding officer to marry. A soldier who has re-enlisted on a normal engagement and who has two years' service in the Forces, all or part of which was rendered during the emergency, is also eligible for admission to the married establishment, provided, however, that if he was unmarried at the date of re-enlistment, he has received the prior permission of his commanding officer to marry. Married men with two years' previous service in the Forces who are recruited under the current scheme of enlistment for three months' service in the Forces and subsequent service in the Reserve of Men—First Line, are eligible for admission to the married establishment as from the date of enlistment.
Marriage allowance is normally paid to the soldier's wife, but where the wife of a soldier on the married establishment dies or in the case of a widower soldier who would be eligible for admission to the married establishment if his wife were alive, the children's allowances may be paid to an approved guardian.
There are various circumstances, prescribed in regulations, in which the children's allowances may be discontinued or be diverted from the mother to the soldier himself, a guardian or some other person. I will not go into these, as I presume that the Deputy is interested only in the general conditions of eligibility. If, however, he desires information about these circumstances, I shall be glad to furnish it.
The estimated cost of the allowances for the current financial year is £860 in respect of officers' children and £131,900 in respect of the children of non-commissioned officers and privates.