asked the Minister for Defence if he will state what arrangements have been made for hearing Old I.R.A. pension claims in County Galway and whether all applicants will receive the same consideration whether their applications were made personally or on their behalf.

The Referee and Advisory Committee and the Board of Assessors hope to hold a sitting in County Galway prior to July of this year for the purpose of hearing evidence on applications under the Military Service Pensions Acts. All applications will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of these Acts and the regulations made thereunder which provide for the acceptance of personal applications only.

Will the Minister state whether in these cases documentary evidence previously submitted on behalf of the applicants will be used again?

I presume so, by the referee.