asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that Sergeant Thomas Foley, late No. 9926, 20th Infantry Battalion, who joined the National Army at Carlow on the 11th of April, 1922, and was discharged on the 17th January, 1924, has made repeated applications for dependents' allowance for his mother, Mrs. Foley, Fighting Cock, Carlow, without result; whether, seeing that Mrs. Foley is in very poor circumstances, he will expedite payment of this allowance.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DEPENDENTS' ALLOWANCE.
Mrs. Foley's claim was disallowed, after due investigation, on the ground that the amount normally contributed by her son to his home over and above the cost of his own maintenance for a reasonable period prior to enlistment was less than the minimum required by the regulations, 12s. per week, before an allowance might be issued.
Can the President say what would be a reasonable period?
No, but I have asked to see the file in connection with the case in order personally to supervise it.
What I wanted to know is, if there is any definite period —must a soldier be contributing for a certain definite period prior to his enlistment, and what is the period?
Is it assumed because he was out of work at the time that he enlisted that he was henceforward to be always out of work, and, therefore, would not be of assistance to his parents?
I cannot add anything to what I have already stated, but I have asked for the file in this case, and I undertake to go into it personally.