asked the Minister for Defence the rates of pension payable to widows of Army officers who died prior to July, 1968; and the basis on which such pensions are calculated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Officers' Widows.
56.
Pensions payable to widows of Army officers are at fixed rates which vary with rank and were laid down originally in the Defence Forces (Pensions) Scheme, 1937. The pensions have been increased on several occasions in common with other public service pensions.
The present annual rates of widow's pension are:
|
Lieutenant |
£207.84 |
|
Captain |
£254.76 |
|
Commandant |
£300.60 |
|
Lieutenant-Colonel |
£340.92 |
|
Colonel |
£407.28 |
|
Major-General or higher rank |
£452.52 |
In addition a pension of £69.60 is payable in respect of each eligible child.
These rates will be further increased as from 1st October, 1972, in accordance with the budget statement of the Minister for Finance.
I did not hear the reply clearly but, with regard to the ex-gratia payment to widows of gardai, does the Minister intend to apply the same conditions to widows of Army officers?
The pensions are differently structured but they compare favourably with the pensions paid to widows of gardaí.
57.
asked the Minister for Defence if he has received any representations to apply the same conditions to the widows of Army officers as have been applied to the widows of members of the Garda Síochána; and, if so, what action he has taken or proposes to take as a result of these representations.
I have received representations in this matter. The position is that the new pension arrangements for widows of public servants aim at providing similar treatment for the widows of the different categories of public servant. However, the fact that the Defence Forces, the Garda Síochána and the Civil Service had different pensions structures makes it difficult to have expressly identical terms for their widows. For instance, Garda Síochána widows have not hitherto been eligible for contributory social welfare widows pensions. The Social Welfare Bill at present before the House will bring members of the Garda Síochána within the scope of the social welfare insurance code, like other public servants.