asked the Minister for Defence when the Referee will hold sittings in Carrick-on-Shannon to dispose of outstanding claims for military service pensions.

It is not possible, at this stage, to state when further sittings of the board of assessors and the Referee and advisory committee will be held in Carrick-on-Shannon. Outstanding claims under the Military Service Pensions Acts from persons resident in County Leitrim will, however, be dealt with at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Minister for Defence whether he proposes to introduce proposals for legislation to amend the Military Service Pensions Acts to enable further consideration to be given to the claims of Old I.R.A. members who were unable to secure pensions under the existing law.

As I indicated when moving the Estimate for Army Pensions last year, I propose to allow the present phase to be completed under the existing system. I shall then have an overall picture of the situation which will be of assistance to me in considering whether anything further needs to be done.