Vol. 530 No. 2
68 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider disregarding the statutory limit governing the allowance from his Department to widows of veterans of the War of Independence in view of the small number of widows now eligible for this allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3391/01]
I assume the Deputy is referring to the means test which applies to the grant of allowances to the widows of certain deceased veterans of the War of Independence. Widows of deceased veterans who died while in receipt of a military service pension or a special allowance qualify for a widow's allowance without the application of a means test. Widows of other deceased veterans i.e. those who were never in receipt of a military service pension or a special allowance may also qualify for a widow's allowance, the purpose of which is to supplement the means of widows who may be in needy circumstances. The means test which is applied in such cases is not very severe. For example, the social welfare old age pension is largely disregarded in the assessment and capital is only partially assessed as means.
