asked the Minister for Defence the number of persons who are in receipt of military pensions as a result of their involvement with the Old IRA; the number of spouses who are in receipt of such pensions; the maximum payment per week of such pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Old IRA Pensions.
22.
(Limerick West): The reply is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
|
Type of pension/allowance |
No. of Recipients |
Maximum Payment per annum |
|
£ |
||
|
Military service pension |
578 |
6,919 |
|
Special Allowance under the Army Pensions Acts |
1,314 |
1,310 |
|
Allowances for spouses of deceased military service pensioners |
2,768 |
3,791 |
|
Allowance for spouses of deceased special allowance holders |
2,797 |
461* |
|
Allowance for spouses of other Veterans of the War of Independence |
723 |
461* |
*These are flat rate allowances.
I understand that the pensions that have accrued to members of the Old IRA — people who gave outstanding service to this State — amount to approximately £10 per week. Would the Minister re-examine these pensions because many such pensioners are now very old? Is that not a derogatory sum to offer to anybody who gave sterling service to this State many years ago?
(Limerick West): The review of such pensions in an ongoing matter. They are increased annually in line with the increases normally awarded to social welfare recipients.
That may be the case. However, it must be realised that when one is talking about a £10 baseline one can readily appreciate what a 2 per cent or 3 per cent increase means to that category of old age pensioner.
(Limerick West): I should like to say that the current minimum pension amounts to £1,023, the maximum £6,919 and the average payment is £1,300.
What do their spouses receive?
The Deputy should await the submission of the tabular statement referred to in the Minister's reply.