asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (a) the dates on which applications for pensions under the Army Pensions Act, 1953, were made by Miss A. Pearse, Kinsale, County Cork, and Miss C. O'Mahony, "St. Therese's", Highfield Avenue, Cork, (b) the reasons for the delay in dealing with these cases, and (c) when it is expected that decisions will be made known to the applicants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Pensions Applications.
Applications for allowances under Part II of the Army Pensions Act, 1953, were received from Miss A. Pearse, Kinsale, County Cork, and Miss C. O'Mahony "St. Therese's", Highfield Avenue, Cork, on 29th October, 1953, and 4th September, 1953, respectively.
Consideration of the cases has been unavoidably prolonged owing to the nature and extent of the investigations necessary in order to determine whether the applications come within the terms of the Act.
I regret I cannot say when decisions are likely to be given.
Considering these two people applied for these pensions roughly two and a half years ago, is it possible that the Minister will state now that we may even continue for several years with these unfortunate people still wondering whether they will ever get one penny under an Act passed here a few years ago.
The Minister is bound, under an Act passed here some years ago, to observe the statutory obligations laid down in the Act. I cannot avoid the statutory regulations laid down in that Act. When that Act was being passed, that was the time to question all this and to question as to why there should be delay.
In view of the fact that the Minister used the words "an unnecessary" or "undue delay", is it correct to say that what is wrong is that we have a shortage of certain officials in the section of his Department which is the vital section so far as this matter is concerned, and that that shortage has been, not just for the last year and a half or year and nine months, but for three or four years back and it is that which is holding up these applications?
There is no truth whatever in that.