asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the number of privates, corporals and sergeants at present serving in the National Army who are married and are not in receipt of marriage allowances; further, if it is intended to pay marriage and dependents' allowances to men who married while serving in the Army since January, 1924, and, if so, if he will state the rates of such allowances.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MARRIAGE ALLOWANCE IN ARMY.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
The number of soldiers in question who have declared themselves as married and who are not in receipt of marriage allowance are as follow: Privates, 389; Corporals, 113; Sergeants, 67.
The allowance will be paid to men who married while serving in the Army since January, 1924, provided they fulfil the requirements of marriage allowance regulations, a copy of which I am sending to the Deputy, and provided also that the quotas for their ranks in their particular units, as shown at page 2 of the regulations, are not exceeded.
No allowance is payable to the dependents of soldiers other than that provided by those regulations.
The rates of marriage allowance are: 1/6 a day for the wife, subject to a deduction of 9d. a day when married quarters are provided; 1/- a day for each of the first two children, and 6d. a day for each of the next two children. I should add that the payment of marriage allowance is conditional upon a compulsory allotment from the soldier's ordinary pay of at least 1/- a day.
Can the Minister say when it is likely that these allowances will be paid?
Allowances are paid at the moment to all soldiers who are entitled to them.
Is the Minister aware that a very large number of men serving at present who were married prior to January, 1924, are not receiving allowances?
Every soldier who comes within the regulations will be paid. Soldiers who do not come within the regulations will not be paid. I am sending a copy of the regulations to the Deputy.