asked the Minister for Defence if he will state in respect of how many cases since 1957 it has been held that military service 1917-21 medals had not been duly awarded; why such decisions were made; and whether there is now a referee to whom disappointed medal holders may appeal.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Military Service Medals.
100.
The Government decided in June, 1957 to institute a new pattern of investigation of applications for the Service (1917-1921) Medal, the old system of verification having proved unreliable in practice. The Government also decided that where a person claimed a special allowance under the Army Pensions Acts by virtue of his being the holder of a Service (1917-1921) Medal which had been issued under the old system of verification, his entitlement to the medal must be re-investigated in accordance with the revised procedure in order to establish that the medal had been "duly awarded" (the expression used in the Army Pensions Acts).
Where a person applies for the free travel, etc., concessions to veterans of the War of Independence by virtue of his being the holder of a Service (1917-1921) Medal issued under the old system of verification, his entitlement to the medal must likewise be re-investigated.
The decision to hold a pre-June, 1957 medal not "duly awarded" is taken, after a most detailed examination and assessment of all the available evidence, by one senior officer of the Department, who records his reasons. Appeals by or on behalf of rejected applicants are submitted to the Minister.
Of some 38,000 Service (1917-1921) Medals issued prior to June 1957, 972 have to date been held, on re-investigation, not to have been duly awarded, when the applicants applied for special allowances or for the free travel, etc., concessions to veterans.