asked the Minister for Defence why a person (details supplied) in County Meath has had his special allowance terminated.

The person referred to by the Deputy was in receipt of a special allowance for the four-year period 1 November 1976 to 31 October 1980. When his means were investigated in September 1980 in respect of the period which commenced on 1 November 1980, it emerged that he and his spouse had money on bank deposit to the amount of almost £12,000. For special allowance purposes the annual value of this money is assessed at £1,168 which exceeds the prescribed limit—£633 in this case—for the award of an allowance. Consequently a fresh award of special allowance could not be granted.