asked the Minister for Defence the total number of persons in receipt of IRA military service pensions, special allowances, disability pensions or IRA widow's pension from his Department; and if he will now abolish the means test where appropriate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - IRA Pensions and Allowances.
11.
The number of persons in receipt of the undermentioned pensions and allowances are as follows:
Military service pensions, 1,002; Special allowances under the Army Pensions Acts, 2,245; War of Independence disability pensions, 32; Allowances for widows of War of Independence veterans, 7,163.
The means test applicable to the special allowances 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 medical holder, no matter how well off he or she might be would automatically be entitled to the maximum rate of the allowance in the same way as the most needy veteran who had no assessable means. Such a modification would confer no extra benefit on the most needy veteran and would defeat the whole purpose of the special allowance scheme, which is to assist a veteran who is in needy circumstances. A means test is essential to ensure that the maximum benefit is channelled to those whose need is greatest.
Would the Minister reconsider that decision? Those people who have been decorated should be considered for a special allowance without a means test. There are so few left and in view of the service which they gave to the country in former years, we owe this to them. I implore the Minister not to impose a means test in these cases in future. I do not agree with him when he says that the means test was relaxed recently. I do not think that is correct.
I gave the reason in my formal reply for the means test being applied, this is, to cater for the most needy people. If the means test were abolished, they would not gain one iota from that abolition because no means are assessed against them. I shall give the Deputy two examples. Many of these people are in receipt of social welfare benefit. In the case of a single man with an old age contributory pension of £54.90p a week, the assessment against him is 62½ per week, for the purpose of an allowance. That is going beyond what might be expected in relaxing the means test. Another example is a single man with an old age non-contributory pension of £47.70p who has 5p per week assessed against him for the purpose of eligibility for the pension. The assessments are so low that they do not make any difference.
As the assessments are so low, would the Minister not consider abolishing them completely?
The examples I gave referred to people in receipt of social welfare benefit. I agree with Deputy McEllistrim that these people did give service to the country in their time but many, fortunately, are not dependent on the State. They have private means. Any relaxation of the means test would be of benefit only to those who have no need of assistance, whereas those really in need would not gain one iota.