I move:—
Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £185,976 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1935, chun Pinsean Créachta agus Ní-ábaltachta, Pinsean Breise agus Pinsean Fear Pósta, Liúntaisí agus Aiscí (Uimh. 26 de 1923, Uimh. 12 de 1927, agus Uimh. 24 de 1932) agus chun síntiúisí agus costaisí iolardha ina dtaobh san agus chun Pinsean Seirbhíse Mileata (Uimh. 48 de 1924), etc.
That a sum not exceeding £185,976 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1935, for Wound and Disability Pensions, Further Pensions, and Married Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities (No. 26 of 1923, No. 12 of 1927, and No. 24 of 1932), and for sundry contributions and expenses in respect thereof and for Military Service Pensions (No. 48 of 1924), etc.
Provision is made in this Estimate for the payment of pensions and allowances under the Army Pensions (Would and Disease) Acts, 1923 to 1932 and the Military Service Pensions Act, 1924. The total amount estimated for is £288,476.
The amount of the Vote (including Supplementary Vote of £32,000) for the year 1933-34 was £268,184. There is, therefore, an increase of £20,292 on the previous year's Estimate. The increase is principally under the head of wound and disability pensions and gratuities, and is due to the provision for further pensions under the Act of 1932, which it is anticipated will be awarded in the current financial year. These pensions date from 1st April, 1932, so that it will be seen that each new pension awarded this year involves payment of two years' arrears as well as payment for the current year.
Over 6,000 applications on the prescribed form under the 1932 Act have been received. A considerable number of these are cases which have been adjudicated upon under the Army Pensions Acts, 1923 and 1927. Upwards of 4,000 applications, after preliminary examination, have been referred to the Military Service Registration Board for investigation and report. This Board has reported in about 1,100 cases. These have been referred to the Army Pensions Board, which has disposed of about 900 cases, following which awards of pensions, allowances and gratuities have been made in over 400 cases. Awards have been refused in upwards of 400 cases, following investigation thereof. The remaining 100 cases, which have been reported on by the Army Pensions Board, are still under consideration.
Sub-head "K" Extra Statutory Grant.—Provision has been made under this sub-head for the grant in exceptional circumstances to a person who, being the son of a signatory to the Proclamation published on Easter Monday, 1916, has passed the statutory age limit for the receipt of allowances under the Army Pensions Acts. Similar provision was made in the Estimates for 1931-32, 1932-33 and 1933-34.