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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Dec 1961

Vol. 192 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pensions for Holders of Service Medals.

39.

asked the Minister for Defence if the holders of Service Medals, being recognised as persons who have seen active service in the establishment of the State, are entitled to a pension to enable them to end their days in comfort and so be recompensed for all the hardships they underwent in the national interest over forty years ago.

A person to whom a Service (1917-1921) Medal has been duly awarded is, in common with other categories of persons, eligible for a special allowance under the Army Pensions Acts, provided that the yearly means of such person do not equal or exceed the appropriate annual sum and that such person is incapable of self-support by reason of age or permanent infirmity of body or mind.

Am I to take it that, unless these men who hold the Service Medal are incapacitated, they are not entitled to any pension for services they rendered?

That is the purpose of having introduced the system of special allowances. It is to meet the point the Deputy raised.

The Minister mentioned the matter of self-support. Surely he must be aware that the income of the whole household is taken into account in relation to the special allowance. It does not strictly mean self-supporting.

I am not in a position to give a positive reply to that point. If the Deputy gives me notice, I shall have the question answered for him.

Mention is made of recompense for those who gave their services. Is the Minister aware that at least 30,000 persons with medals never received one penny and probably never will, because there is a means test? Is he also aware that, because of the unfortunate Civil War, a great many of the people who have medals suffered the loss of their jobs, their business and were given long terms of imprisonment but did not receive a penny for that either, nor will they ever receive a penny?

The question refers to Service Medals.

It also refers to recompense for those who gave service. I am stating that 30,000 persons will never receive a penny. That is my point. That is the raw deal they got.

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