asked the Minister for Defence the total number of retired officers who are at present in receipt of pensions under the Defence Forces (Pensions) Act, 1937; the total annual cost of such pensions; the number of officers whose pensions under the Act are abated in part and in whole; and the total additional annual cost to the State if abated pensions were paid in full.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pensions of Retired Army Officers.
39.
The total number of officers at present in receipt of retired pay under the Defence Forces (Pensions) Scheme, 1937, is 503. The total annual cost is £236,000.
The number of officers whose retired pay is abated is 32. In 20 of the cases the abatement (partial in ten instances and whole in the remaining ten) is on account of the retired officer being in employment, the remuneration of which is payable out of public moneys. In the remaining 12 cases, the abatement (partial in all instances) is due to the retired officer being in receipt of a disability pension. The additional annual cost to public funds if the abatement provisions were entirely removed would be £8,300.