asked the Minister for Defence why the ration allowances of N.C.O.s and men, who are living out of barracks, were further reduced last January by one penny per day.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Ration Allowances.
The reduction by one penny a day, as from the 1st January, 1955, in the allowance in lieu of rations issuable to certain men of the Defence Forces was due to a decrease in the cost to the Department of Defence of purchasing foodstuffs for the troops.
Could the Minister give us any idea as to when these reductions were introduced and why the general consumer did not benefit also?
There was a lower cost for meat, bacon and rashers generally, a seasonal reduction in the cost of milk and fish and a lower cost for bread due to the increase in the flour subsidy in last year's Budget. Then you had a decrease in the price of butter as from 23rd August, 1954, which did not affect the ration allowances of soldiers until January 1st, 1955. That brought about a decrease of .626d. in the daily ration allowances. The change in the price of rasher bacon brought about a reduction of .606d. in the daily ration of 3 oz.
Is the Minister aware that the N.C.O.s and men have to pay top prices for these goods outside the barracks and is it not unfair and unjust to penalise them when that is so?
We are feeding them inside and do not put them to the trouble of walking home at all. In that way we also save their boots. Some of them have opted to take the allowance outside rather than take the good and cheap food inside. Surely to goodness it is only reasonable. They do not ask any more.