asked the Minister for Defence whether Mr. E.J. Confrey, of 1 Sussex Street, Dun Laoghaire, formerly a lieutenant in the National Army, has applied to commute a portion of his pension in order to meet expenses caused by his severe illness, and whether he is prepared to agree to such commutation.

Mr. Confrey made application for the commutation of portion of the pension granted to him under the Army Pensions Act, 1923. As the Act makes no provision for the total or partial commutation of these pensions, I am unable to accede to his application.