asked the Minister for Defence what are the qualifications necessary for a resettlement grant when retiring from the Defence Forces.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Resettlement Grants.
17.
The Defence Forces (Pensions) Schemes do not provide for grants specifically described as resettlement grants. They provide for retired pay, pensions and gratuities for officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, subject to certain conditions.
An officer eligible for retired pay who was in receipt of pay as a married officer for two years prior to retirement is also eligible for a married officer's gratuity but not for a married pension. A married non-commissioned officer or private in receipt of a pension is also eligible for a married pension, but not for a gratuity.
An officer, non-commissioned officer or private who has insufficient service to qualify for retired pay or pension is eligible for a gratuity based on length of service, provided he has certain minimum service. The normal qualifying period for a gratuity is five years for an officer and three years for a non-commissioned officer or private.
An officer retiring on age grounds is eligible for twenty-eight days' preretirement leave with pay and allowances and a non-commissioned officer or private is eligible for pre-discharge leave with pay and allowances up to a maximum of ninety-one days in the case of those with twenty-one years' service.
Is it correct that the question of a gratuity depends on whether a man is married or single. If that is so, does the Minister agree with it? Does he not think single officers or NCO's are as much entitled, after giving service, to gratuity as married officers and NCO's?
At short notice, I should prefer not to express an opinion on it.
Is it correct that single officers and NCO's do not get a gratuity?
Perhaps I should repeat what I have already said to the Deputy, lest I be misinterpreted. I said:
An officer eligible for retired pay who was in receipt of pay as a married officer for two years prior to retirement is also eligible for a married officer's gratuity but not for a married pension. A married non-commissioned officer or private in receipt of a pension is also eligible for a married pension, but not for a gratuity.
Will the Minister tell me about single officers and the gratuity?