Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 7

Written Answers. - Defence Force Pensions.

Tom Enright

Question:

40 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Defence the action, if any, he intends to take to ensure that pensions are paid to the 180 widows whose husbands were members of the Defence Forces and who are not currently receiving any pension in view of the fact that they were unaware of the decision to opt out of the contributory spouses' and children's pension scheme operated by his Department. [9059/98]

Michael Finucane

Question:

65 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Defence the action, if any, he intends to take to ensure that pensions are paid to the 180 widows whose husbands were members of the Defence Forces and who are not currently receiving any pension in view of the fact that they were unaware of the decision to opt out of the contributory spouses' and children's pension scheme operated by his Department. [9062/98]

Nora Owen

Question:

67 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Defence the action, if any, he intends to take to ensure that pensions are paid to the 180 widows whose husbands were members of the Defence Forces and who are not currently receiving any pension in view of the fact that they were unaware of the decision to opt out of the contributory spouses' and children's pension scheme operated by his Department. [9057/98]

John V. Farrelly

Question:

115 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Defence the action, if any, he intends to take to ensure that pensions are paid to the 180 widows whose husbands were members of the Defence Forces and who are not currently receiving any pension in view of the fact that they were unaware of the decision to opt out of the contributory spouses' and children's pension scheme operated by his Department. [9060/98]

Tom Enright

Question:

117 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Defence the action, if any, he intends to take to ensure that pensions are paid to the 180 widows whose husbands were members of the Defence Forces and who are not currently receiving any pension in view of the fact that they were unaware of the decision to opt out of the contributory spouses' and children's pension scheme operated by his Department. [9058/98]

John V. Farrelly

Question:

121 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Defence the action, if any, he intends to take to ensure that pensions are paid to the 180 widows whose husbands were members of the Defence Forces and who are not currently receiving any pension in view of the fact that they were unaware of the decision to opt out of the contributory spouses' and children's pension scheme operated by his Department. [9061/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 65, 67, 115, 117 and 121 together.

Provision for the payment of pensions by the Department of Defence to the widows and children of deceased soldiers was first made in 1978 when a contributory pension scheme for those dependants was introduced. Soldiers serving at the time were included as members of the scheme unless they made a positive option in writing not to become members. Benefits under this scheme are additional to the survivor's contributory pension under the social welfare Acts for which soldiers are insured by virtue of their PRSI contributions.

In 1985 a second opportunity to make provision for their dependants was granted when all soldiers — as well as pensioners and the representatives of deceased soldiers — who had opted out of the scheme in 1978 were invited to reconsider their decision and to join a revised scheme. Unfortunately, not all availed of this option.

It is estimated that currently there are about 200 Army widows who are not eligible for pensions under the contributory scheme because their late husbands were not members of the scheme.

At this stage, all soldiers who were serving when the original scheme was introduced in 1978 have had two opportunities to join the scheme. The question of again reopening membership options has been considered on a number of occasions over the past few years but I regret that it has not been found possible to make any concession. In this regard, I should say that there would be implications for many other public sector areas if membership options were reopened in respect of the Defence Forces' scheme.