asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the number of persons drawing pensions in County Wexford in respect of 1916 service, 1922 service and also under the Military Service Pensions (Amendment) Act, 1949.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Military Service Pensions.
The total number of persons resident in County Wexford who have pensions under the Military Service Pensions Acts is 341. Of this number, 142 had service in the 1916 period and 63 were awarded pensions as a result of the Military Service Pensions (Amendment) Act, 1949. The balance were awarded pensions in respect of pre- and post-truce service under the Military Service Pensions Acts, 1924 and 1934.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state in regard to Old I.R.A. military service pension applications dealt with by the Referee since the 1st January, 1954, the number of such applications which have been (1) granted by the Referee; (2) rejected by the Referee; (3) adjourned by the Referee for further consideration, and if he will further state the number of cases in which, although the applications have been considered and rejected by the Referee, no notification of rejection has yet been communicated to the applicants.
Since the 1st January, 1954, and up to 23rd March, 1954, the Referee and the Board of Assessors have made 4,317 reports to me. Of these, seven were favourable and 4,310 unfavourable. The majority of the persons in whose cases unfavourable reports were received have not yet been notified, for the reason that the departmental staffing arrangements permit of notifications being issued at a limited rate only. The bulk of the unfavourable reports relate to petitions under the Military Service Pensions (Amendment) Act, 1949, where applications had previously been rejected under either the Military Service Pensions Acts of 1924 or 1934, thus confirming the decisions originally reached in these cases.
The number of cases examined by the Referee and the Board of Assessors since the 1st January, 1954, and in which they have not yet reported to me, is 152.