asked the Minister for Lands why a Land Commission ganger (name supplied) in County Meath who was called up by the Army at the beginning of the National Emergency 1939-46 and who left the Land Commission service to serve in the Army and returned to the Land Commission on discharge, is not being credited with full Army service for pension purposes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Commission Ganger.
23.
Army service during the Emergency by the person referred to in the question was not rendered with the prior consent of his Department and, therefore, according to the terms of the relevant pension scheme, not more than two years of this service may reckon towards his pension.
Surely the Minister should have on his file the fact that the man was released by the Land Commission to take up service? He was a reserve and was asked to go on full service. In those circumstances would the Minister not agree that it seems ludicrous that this type of man should be refused full service and be credited with only two years' service whereas if he was an officer or an official of the Department he would get credit for the six years?
My information is that this man was not called up but enlisted voluntarily. In any event I do not propose to argue on that. It is not very important but I will have the case examined further?
I ask the Minister to do something about this because the man concerned gave six years' service with the permission of the Land Commission and then returned to his job.
Perhaps Deputy Tully would leave well enough alone. The man enlisted voluntarily but in any case I will have the matter re-examined.
I have been on to the Minister's Department about this matter for the past two years.
Again, the Deputy should leave well enough alone. Anyway, as the Deputy knows, the matter is not one for the Department of Lands.
This man has the letter from the Department of Lands consenting to his serving in the Army.
We will do our best for him.
Is the Minister for Finance in on it, too?
Of course he is, as the Deputy is aware.