Robert Troy
Ceist:144. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence if he will ensure a disability army pension is granted and paid to a person (details supplied) without further delay. [35606/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 13 October 2015
Ceisteanna (144)
Freagraí scríofa
The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established to investigate applications for disability pensions, allowances and gratuities under the Army Pensions Acts and report their findings to the Minister. In this case the Board’s finding was that the applicant had a degree of disablement which did not reach the minimum required for the grant of a disability pension under the Army Pensions Acts, but was eligible for consideration for the award of a gratuity under the Acts. On foot of this a gratuity of €28,050 was awarded in April 2013. The applicant appealed this award and the Board agreed to reopen its consideration of his case. My Department received a revised report from the Army Pensions Board following on from the appeal but required clarification on a number of matters. Clarification was received recently from the Board and my Department is considering this and will be writing to the applicant in the near future. I should say that in the event that a disability pension were to be awarded in this case the amount of the gratuity paid previously will be taken into account in setting the commencement date of the disability pension.