asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the number of (a) applicants for military service pensions under the 1934 Act from the Longford, Leitrim, Cavan, Westmeath, Athlone, and Roscommon North and South brigade areas under the following headings: (1) I.R.A. (a) pre-Truce and post-Truce; (b) pre-Truce; (2) Cumann na mBan (a) pre-Truce and post-Truce; (b) pre-Truce; (b) the number of cases heard under each heading; (c) the names and the amounts paid to I.R.A. and Cumann na mBan applicants, and the number of applicants refused; (d) if he will state the cause of the delay in deciding cases already heard, and if it is intended to increase the staff of the pensions board so that the decisions may be expedited.
Written Answers. - Military Service Pensions.
The records of the advisory committee are not compiled under the main headings of the Deputy's question, and it is not, therefore, practicable to furnish the information required. Owing to the large number of applications under the 1934 Act, and also owing to the extreme pressure of work in all branches dealing with Army pensions and military service pensions, it is not desirable to divert the staff from their ordinary work to compile such records. In answer to the latter portion of the Deputy's question, I wish to state that every effort has been made to speed up the completion of the work on pensions, and that within the last few months the staff in the referee's office was increased.