Vol. 438 No. 8
79 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Defence if he intends to include military service allowance in the calculation of pensions for Defence Forces personnel, whose pensions do not include this allowance; the numbers eligible for this allowance and the estimated cost of implementing this measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
An addition to pension to include military service allowance in respect of retired personnel of the Defence Forces was introduced on foot of a recommendation of the Commission on Remuneration and Conditions of Service in the Defence Forces, the Gleeson Commission, that military service allowance should be made pensionable. The measure applies, subject to certain conditions, to Defence Forces' personnel retiring on or after 1 August 1990, i.e. the day following publication of the Commission report.
Military service allowance has been reckoned in the calculation of the pensions of all qualified retired personnel. The application of the measure to almost 5,600 other pensioners would, if they were qualified in accordance with the conditions, cost an additional estimated £5 million.
Having regard to the basis on which the measure was introduced, and the cost involved, I regret that the extension of the measure to other retired personnel cannot be undertaken.
