I move:—
That a sum not exceeding £663,390 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, 1953, for Wound and Disability Pensions, Further Pensions and Married Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities (No. 26 of 1923, No. 12 of 1927, No. 24 of 1932, No. 15 of 1937, No. 2 of 1941, No. 14 of 1943, No. 3 of 1946 and Nos. 19 and 28 of 1949); Military Service Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities (No. 48 of 1924, No. 26 of 1932, No. 43 of 1934, No. 33 of 1938, No. 5 of 1944, Nos. 11 and 34 of 1945 and Nos. 7 and 29 of 1949); Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities (No. 37 of 1936, No. 9 of 1948 and No. 30 of 1950); Payments in respect of Compensation for Members of the Local Defence Force (No. 19 of 1946 and No. 15 of 1949); and for sundry contributions and Expenses in respect thereof, etc.
The Army Pensions Estimate at £995,080 for the present year shows an increase of £105,500 compared with the Estimate for the previous year, or, if there be taken into consideration a Supplementary Estimate for £20,000 taken in March, 1951, a net increase of £85,000. This increase is due almost exclusively to a larger number qualifying for military service pensions, Defence Forces pensions and special allowances.
The sole purpose of this Vote is to implement financially statutes and schemes passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas. The details of the awards already made and to be made under these statutes and schemes are fully set out in the printed volume of Estimates, so that it is only necessary to summarise under a few headings the financial provisions. Briefly, then, the sum of £995,080 may be said to be made up as follows:—
|
£ |
|
|
1. Administrative and other Expenses |
25,085 |
|
2. Payment of Pensions and Allowances already awarded |
877,945 |
|
3. Payment of New Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities |
140,158 |
|
GROSS TOTAL |
£1,043,188 |
|
Less deductions in respect of Deaths and Abatements |
48,108 |
|
NET TOTAL |
£995,080 |
During the past year the Army Pensions Board has dealt with 1,142 claims, of which 808 related to special allowances. In dealing with these claims they were helped to a very large extent by the appointment of pensions medical officers, who, having examined the claimants locally, submitted their reports to the board. In this way 420 cases were dealt with during the year.
Tribute must be paid to these officers for the extensive help they have given in the examination of claims, for without their assistance the board would find it difficult, if not impossible, to cope with the work, and most certainly the claims could not be examined as expeditiously.
As regards the applications and petitions for Military Service Certificates, there were on 31st March, 1952, no less than 16,540. The Advisory Committee has examined and graded 11,707 cases to date, and have selected for hearing by the Referee 7,267. Of that number the Referee has actually heard 1,700 claims, and has made to date favourable reports in 713. During they year there have been held outside of Dublin 21 local sittings, and to date 21 counties have been visited.
Representations have been made to me by the committee of Old I.R.A. men set up to investigate the existing position in relation to Military Service Pensions. This claim has been examined by me and is still under consideration but I am not yet in a position to say to what extent (if any) it will be possible to meet these claims.
Certain proposals regarding the position of ex-servicemen in relation to the retired pay and pensions scheme have also been submitted which are under consideration.
