asked the Minister for Defence if he will have old IRA pensions paid weekly to persons in necessitous circumstances on whom hardship is imposed at present by the long interval between payments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Weekly Payment of IRA Pensions.
70.
The possibility of paying pensions granted under the Acts administered by my Department at more frequent intervals than monthly has been carefully and sympathetically examined on a number of occasions, but, in view of the heavy cost which would be involved in the provision of additional staff, I regret that the alteration would not be justified.
Would the Minister be prepared to go to this extent, to pay them weekly on receipt of a written application from a pensioner? Some pensioners certainly suffer severe hardship awaiting the monthly cheque. The number who would want it weekly might be very small.
We have no information whatever to that effect. People who are suffering hardship may be entitled to a special allowance along with their service pension.