Liam Aylward
Question:290 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Defence the reason an increase has not been awarded for the past two years to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who is in receipt of an old IRA pension. [23073/96]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Pensions.
The person in question is in receipt of a special allowance under the Army Pensions Acts as a veteran of the War of Independence. Pensions and allowances payable by the Department of Defence to veterans and the spouses of deceased veterans were last increased from 1 August 1994, when a special increase of 15 per cent was implemented. Cumulatively, these payments have been increased by about 50 per cent since October 1990. Over the same period, the personal rate of special allowance payable to the person referred to was increased by 94 per cent. By way of comparison, the cost of living has risen by about 15 per cent since August 1990 while the average increase in social welfare payments generally since 1990 has been about 33 per cent. The question of a further increase in the veteran's and related payments is currently under review in my Department.