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Dáil Éireann - Volume 7 - 06 May, 1924 CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - APPLICATIONS FOR PENSIONS. Mr. A. BYRNE Mr. A. BYRNE Mr. A. BYRNE asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the number of applications made for pension or gratuity; the number passed; the number rejected; and the number awaiting consideration by the Pensions Board. MINISTER for DEFENCE (The President) William T. Cosgrave MINISTER for DEFENCE (The President): A total of 2,619 applications for pensions or gratuities has been received. Of these, 226 have been passed for payment, and 620 have been rejected. The number still under investigation is 1,773. Mr. BYRNE Mr. BYRNE Mr. BYRNE: Is the Minister aware of the dissatisfaction that exists as a result of the treatment some wounded men are receiving from this Committee, and can he not consider the advisability of giving them a representative on it? The PRESIDENT The PRESIDENT The PRESIDENT: I think I have answered that question before. It is not possible, as the Deputy knows, to give representation on a Committee which authorises such payments. Major COOPER Major COOPER Major COOPER: Has the President considered the desirability of setting up a Pensions Appeal Board to reconsider decisions and to which men who are dissatisfied may appeal? The PRESIDENT The PRESIDENT 192 [192] The PRESIDENT: That question had better be raised as soon as we have exhausted the 1,773 claims. Mr. BYRNE Mr. BYRNE Mr. BYRNE: May I ask the President whether, pending consideration of the 1,773 claims, he will say what is to become of the men who are making the claims? Is he aware that in at least two cases to which my attention has been drawn within the last couple of weeks, soldiers two days after being wounded received their discharge from the Army, thereby depriving themselves and their dependents of pay, and that they got no pension? That is going on for nearly six months, in one case now in St. Bricin's Hospital. The PRESIDENT The PRESIDENT The PRESIDENT: I think it is impossible to answer individual cases of that sort. In no case where representation has been made to me has there been any lack of attention. I am not in a position to answer as to the individual hardships that may be suffered in the 1,773 cases that are not yet examined. All I can say is that the whole machinery of the Department is being exercised, as far as is possible, in the circumstances, to deal with these cases. Dáil Éireann 7 CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. APPLICATIONS FOR PENSIONS. Questions 19240506
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