asked the Minister for Defence if he will state why soldiers who have legally adopted children are not granted children's allowances in respect of such children.

The payment of children's allowances to members of the Defence Forces in respect of legally adopted children is receiving sympathetic consideration. I hope to be in a position to announce a decision in the near future.

It is almost two years now since the Minister informed the late Deputy McGrath that the matter was under consideration, and I understand that the allowances are now being drawn by members of the Garda Síochána and members of the Civil Service. If that is so, I would like the Minister to take into consideration the fact that if these payments are being made in the near future they should be retrospective.

The last part would be the stickier I think.

There is certainly a case for it.

It is quite correct to say that allowances are now being paid to civil servants and others. The regulation is being drafted to cover these people. It is not exactly easy, but I hope the decision will be announced at a very early date.

I hope the Minister will throw his weight in on the side of the Army.

As far as I can.

There is a good case for it.

Is it not a fact that step-children automatically qualify for children's allowances in the Army and surely if there are no difficulties in that case, difficulties should not arise in the case of adopted children?