asked the Minister for Defence if he will grant an allowance to all IRA veterans who were awarded service medals.
Written Answers. - Allowance for IRA Veterans.
339.
The holder of a 1916 Medal, a Service (1917-1921) Medal with Bar or a duly awarded Service (1917-1921) Medal without Bar is eligible for a special allowance subject to a means test. The purpose of the special allowance is to give a measure of support to veterans who on account of age or incapacity are not in a position to support themselves. The means test has been relaxed progressively over the years and is now far from severe. If it were further modified to permit of the grant of an allowance, irrespective of means, every military service pensioner and medal holder, no matter how well off he or she might be, would automatically be eligible for it in the same way as the most needy veteran who had no assessable means. Such a situation would tend to vitiate the whole purpose of the special allowance scheme.
In the circumstances the grant of an allowance on the basis suggested is not contemplated.