asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that many widows of Old IRA pensioners are living in very frugal circumstances; and if he will accordingly introduce legislation to make some provision for those people to alleviate any hardships being caused.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old IRA Widows.
102.
Provision exists in the Army Pensions Acts for the grant, subject to certain conditions, of allowances to the widows of members of the Old IRA who die while in receipt of disablement pensions under these Acts. It is not proposed to introduce legislation to provide for the payment of allowances to the widows of military service pensioners.
Is the Minister aware that some of these widows are undergoing great hardship at the moment due to the fact that there is very little money coming into their homes? The number is gradually dwindling and it would appear that it would not cost a great deal to increase the allowances paid to the widows of veterans.
The Deputy should remember that special allowances are strictly personal. The award is made to the holder of the medal and to him alone and while it might seem desirable on the surface to continue that preference to other members of his family, it could be viewed in another light as being somewhat discriminatory against other people whose families did not hold medals.
Is the Minister not aware of the poverty of the widows of IRA veterans and does he not consider that it is a disgrace to us that they are in such poverty?
I am not discussing the poverty of the widows in question but I am discussing entitlement to special allowances.