asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware of the prolonged delay in his Department in dealing with claims for military service medals and special allowances under the Military Service Pensions Acts and if he will have the matter examined with a view to an immediate improvement in the existing system.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Military Medals and Allowances.
Mr. Murphy
I am not aware that any undue delay has taken place in dealing with claims for military service medals.
With regard to the question of special allowance claims the Deputy will appreciate that considerable delay in disposing of these claims is unavoidable owing to the necessity for the examination of applicants by a medical board and the reference to another Department of inquiries concerning the means of the claimants.
Mr. Murphy
Is the Minister aware that when members of this House write to his Department it may take two months before they get a reply?
That is quite a separate question. That deals with delays insinuated with regard to correspondence. The question is with regard to claims. That has been answered. The Deputy may not be aware that under this medal and allowance scheme a date was fixed prior to which all these claims should have been made. Claims were not made. The date was extended and when it was extended 50,000 new claims came in of which 21,000 have been dealt with.
Will the Minister say if he will consider supplementing the staff who are dealing with this matter with a view to expediting the conclusion of this medal business?
I do not think that increasing the staff would expedite the thing very considerably. Part—and a great portion—of the delay is due to getting the questionnaire answered.