asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware of an anomaly that has arisen in the case of certain persons who received the six per cent. increase in military service pensions from August last and who are also the holders of a special allowance; that when they have been awarded an increase in pensions amounting in some cases to £3 10s. 0d. per annum their special allowance has been reduced by a similar amount; if, in view of the fact that the increase was granted because the pensioners had suffered a substantial reduction in the purchasing power of their pensions owing to the fall in the value of money, he will state the reasons for the reduction in special allowances; and if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that such pensioners are awarded the full benefit of the increase as from 1st August last.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Military Service Pensions Increases.
A special allowance is subject to a means test, and the assessment of means is governed by statutory directions for which the Army Pensions Acts provide. These directions prescribe, inter alia, that the full amount of a military service pension shall be assessed as means in the case of a person of seventy years of age or over and that, in the case of a person under seventy years of age, the amount by which the pension exceeds £30 a year shall be so assessed. That being so, the increases in military service pensions to which the Deputy refers had, where they fall within the provisions of the directions, to be assessed as means. It is not proposed to alter that position.
Seemingly there is no hope—
The Deputy must ask a question.
"Is the Minister aware—?"
Is the Minister aware that the answer he has given me does not hold out any hope whatever for that section of the I.R.A. on whose behalf I put the question? I dare say it looks very strange to those men, and very strange to many Deputies, that a Bill brought in solely to grant them a six per cent. increase on their I.R.A. pensions to meet the extra cost of living——
I think the Deputy is making a speech.
Well, if I am, the other fellows must have said a lot. Let us have fair play.
The Deputy will not be allowed make a speech.
I listened to my friend Deputy O'Malley. He has talked longer than I have. I did not put the question to harass the Minister in any way.
The Chair is not concerned with harassing the Minister. The Chair wants the Deputy to put a question.
I shall put the question. I am just replying to the Minister's answer. I seldom trouble the House and I think I should be given an opportunity of making my case. An old I.R.A. man's disability pension is not taken into account when he looks for an old age pension up to the age of 80. Must you economise to the extent of £3 10s. at the expense of the unfortunate men for whom this Bill was passed? They are sailing very near the Plimsoll line as far as the economy of the State is concerned.