asked the Minister for Defence whether he proposes to take such steps as are necessary to grant a settlement allowance to old N.C.O.s and men who, on retirement from the regular Army, have given more than 30 years' service.

I regret I am not in a position to give the Deputy the information he seeks.

I can only repeat what I have said in the House previously, that I have a new pensions scheme for personnel of the Permanent Defence Forces under consideration. I am not, however, yet in a position to say when that scheme will come into operation or what its terms will be.