Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 2

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Pensions.

Paul McGrath

Question:

66 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if he will confirm that veterans of the war of independence were informed by him on 15 December 1999 that they were to receive a special payment and increased pension in January 2000; the number of these pensioners; if many pensioners who received this notification were subsequently told that they would not receive this payment; if so, the number of pensioners in this regard; and if he will make a once-off payment to them in view of the serious error made by his Department and the ensuing disappointment for many pensioners, some of whom had entered into financial commitments on the basis of his notification. [2106/00]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

In the context of the new millennium, I was pleased to be able to approve special payments for surviving veterans of the War of Independence and the spouses of deceased veterans, the payments to comprise a once-off lump sum of £500 and a 50% increase in pensions from 1 January 2000. In that regard, it was decided to issue a general circular with the December 1999 pension cheques giving details of the special payments to such veterans and spouses, 2,000 in number.

Since the issue of the December pension cheques on 15 December 1999, telephone calls have been received in the pensions section of my Department from a small number – fewer than ten – of Defence Forces pensioners, of whom there are some 9,000 in total, who had mistakenly received the circular intended for the War of Independence-related pensioners. The position was explained and apologies were made to these pensioners for the error.

The matter has been investigated in my Department and I am satisfied that, due to human error, a very small number of Defence Forces pensioners were mistakenly issued with the circular regarding special millennium payments. The error is regretted but I should mention that it was clear from the relevant circular that the special payments applied only to veterans of the War of Independence and the spouses of deceased veterans.

I do not consider that the circumstances outlined warrant the making of any compensatory payments to those who received the circular in error.