asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (1) the number of Military Service Certificates granted since 1948 under the Military Service Pensions Acts, 1924 to 1934, to volunteers and associated bodies and Cumann na mBan, (2) the total number of cases heard by the Referee and Board of Assessors, respectively, (3) the number of claims rejected after hearing, and the number rejected without oral hearing under each Act, (4) the dates upon which the Referee and Board of Assessors sat in 1958, and the dates of the proposed sittings in 1959, (5) what staff is at present retained in the office of the Referee and Board of Assessors; and whether he has any proposals to amend the Military Service Pensions Acts of 1924 and 1934, respectively.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Military Service Pensions.
1.
The Board of Assessors and the Referee were not functioning in 1948 and did not recommence their work until after the enactment of the Military Service Pensions (Amendment) Act, 1949. The following is the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the period since such recommencement:—
(1) Number of Certificates of Military Service granted under the Act of 1924—388;
Number of Service Certificates granted under the Act of 1934 —2,075.
(2) Number of cases heard by the Board of Assessors under the Act of 1924—975;
Number of cases heard by the Referee under the Act of 1934 —6,645.
(3) Number of cases rejected after hearing by the Board of Assessors —587;
Number of cases rejected after hearing by the Referee—4,570;
Number of cases rejected without hearing by the Board of Assessors —2,108;
Number of cases rejected without hearing by the Referee—11,028.
The total of 13,136 cases rejected without hearing included 9,567 petitions under the Act of 1949 against rejections under the original Acts. In the opinion of the Board of Assessors or the Referee, a prima facie case was not established in those 9,567 cases and they were, therefore, statutorily required to refuse to examine them. The remaining 3,569 cases rejected without hearing were applications from persons who had not previously applied under the Acts.
(4) The Board of Assessors and the Referee sat continuously, in Dublin and provincial centres, until 30 Mean Fóir, 1958, when they completed their work.
(5) None, as the Board of Assessors and the Referee have ceased to function.
(6) The question of further amendment of the Military Service Pensions Acts is not at present in contemplation.
- An Bille um an Tríú Leasú ar an mBunreacht, 1958—An Coiste (Atógáil). Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1958—Committee Stage (Resumed).
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- An Bille um an Tríú Leasú ar an mBunreacht 1958—An Coiste (Atogáil). Third Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1958—Committee Stage (Resumed).