asked the Minister for Defence if in the case of Army pensioners there is any provision in the Army Pensions Acts for assessing increased incapacity caused by wounds.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Pensions: Increased Incapacity.
83.
Under the Army Pensions Acts, a temporary award of pension may be reviewed at any time if the pensioner produces satisfactory evidence that his pensionable disability has increased since the date of his last examination by the Army Pensions Board. A final pension may be reviewed only where application is made within ten years from the date of the final grant and the pensioner furnishes satisfactory evidence that the degree of his pensionable disablement has increased by ten per cent or more.
Surely the Minister is aware of instances where people had their final pension awards made and then found that, over the years, their health had deteriorated as a result of wounds received? Does the Minister not consider it unfair that somebody who originally had his disability assessed at 25 per cent should be refused a review when his disability has reached 75 or 80 per cent?
I am bound by the sections of the relevant Act.
Then would the Minister not agree that these sections should not be allowed to remain as they are?
The contentions put forward by the Deputy are matters on which there are other opinions. It might not be possible to get agreement that these sections should be amended.
It must be within the Minister's knowledge that people originally assessed at 25 per cent disability now find themselves with 75 to 80 per cent disability.
That can happen.
It is a very strong argument for having a review of the situation.
I will have the matter examined but I would like to warn the Deputy in advance that there can be different opinions about it.