Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
214 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Defence the financial and other assistance given to the widows of old IRA veterans; if there are special arrangements in place to provide nursing home accommodation for such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12033/04]
View answerWidows of deceased veterans of the War of Independence who died while in receipt of a military service pension or a special allowance qualify for a widow's allowance from my Department, as do widows of other deceased veterans subject to a means test. Such payments are additional to any entitlements under social welfare legislation.
My Department also administers schemes, similar to those under social welfare legislation, for the provision of free travel, free television licences, electricity allowance and telephone rental allowance to veterans and to the spouses of deceased veterans.
There are no special arrangements in place under the auspices of my Department for the provision of nursing home accommodation to widows of veterans. These widows would be eligible for nursing home care or a subvention towards nursing home care under the Health Acts in the same way as other members of the community.
