asked the Minister for Defence how he arrived at the figure of £60 as a suitable ex gratia grant to Mrs. J. Murtagh, Rathmore, Aughnacliffe P.O., County Longford arising out of the death of her son Thomas in a road traffic accident; and if a greater sum was not justified in the circumstances of the case, particularly since the amount barely covers the expenses of the funeral and as Thomas was Mrs. Murtagh's chief support.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ex Gratia Payment to County Longford Woman.
98.
The State was not legally liable for damages in this case and the figure of £60 was regarded as a reasonable sum in respect of Mrs. Murtagh's out-of-pocket expenses arising from the death of her son.
Is the Minister aware that this sum of £60 does not cover the out-of-pocket expense or anything like it? Is the Minister aware this woman had to travel at least three times to the Glen of Imaal where this unfortunate accident took place and that the only reason that she did not proceed in court was that apparently there was contributory negligence on the part of the deceased boy? A sum of £60 to the widowed mother of a boy killed on the road is not very great. When the Minister was paying anything, why only £60? Is that all the Minister for Finance could afford, especially as this boy was practically her sole support?
The Deputy knows that neither the Department of Defence nor the Department of Finance were in any way bound to pay anything. It was entirely ex gratia. In these cases the usual practice is that vouched out-of-pocket expenses are paid and that practice was followed in this case.
Is the Minister aware that this old lady can hardly read or write and that she was not aware that she should have got and kept receipts for the trips from Rathmore in County Longford to the Glen of Imaal? There was a coroner's inquest and all sorts of expenses and the £60 barely covers the undertaker's expenses of the car and hearse for the funeral?
I can only repeat what I have already said that the Department has always paid properly vouched out-of-pocket expenses and that was done in this case. If there are other items that can be so vouched and if that vouching is done and the necessary documents are sent to me I shall consider the matter and refer it to the Department of Finance.