asked the Minister for Defence if he will take steps to increase the payments made to NCOs, particularly long-serving soldiers, on leaving the Army so as to provide them with gratuities and pay analogous to those paid to officers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment to Retiring Army Personnel.
24.
Mr. Ryan
I should make it clear, as has been done on other occasions, that only married officers are eligible for gratuities in addition to their retired pay. Single officers are not so eligible. While a married officer is eligible for a gratuity, he is eligible for a married pension. Married non-commissioned officers and men discharged on pension are eligible for additional married pensions. I regret, therefore, that I cannot undertake that gratuities will be payable on discharge to married non-commissioned officers and men in addition to married pensions.