asked the Minister for Defence if he will grant a special allowance under the Military Service Pensions Acts to all holders of old IRA medals who have reached the age of sixty-five years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Special Allowance for IRA Medal Holders.
10.
There is no age limit governing eligibility for receipt of special allowances under the Army Pensions Acts. One of the statutory conditions for the grant of a special allowance is that the applicant be incapable of self-support by reason of age or permanent infirmity of body or mind. Persons who have reached the age of 70 are regarded as being incapable of self-support by reason of age. Persons who are less than 70 years of age and who are found to be incapable of self-support by reason of permanent infirmity of body or mind are eligible for the grant of an allowance. It is not proposed to reduce to 65 years the age at which an applicant could be regarded as incapable of self-support by reason of age only.