Batt O'Keeffe
Question:117 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice if she intends to pay a widows and orphan pension to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6. [6820/96]
Written Answers. - Pension Entitlement.
The person concerned is the son of a retired garda, now deceased. The Deputy will be aware that I replied to a parliamentary question from Deputy Dermot Ahern on 12 March concerning the pension entitlements of the former member's widow, also deceased. The person who is the subject of Deputy O'Keeffe's question has never claimed a Garda orphan's pension and no person has ever claimed an increase in Garda pension in respect of him.
For Garda pension purposes a qualified child is a child under the age of 16 or under 18 (21 in the case of the contributory scheme) if in full-time education or training. An increase in pension can also be granted in respect of a permanently incapacitated child dependant over the age of 21 provided the incapacity existed before reaching that age.