asked the Minister for Defence the number of persons at present in receipt of military service pensions.

(Dún Laoghaire): The number of persons at present in receipt of pensions under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1924, and Military Service Pension Act, 1934 is 1,381.

Does the Minister of State know the number of people in receipt of special allowances? In view of the fact that the number of people in receipt of military service pensions is so small, would the Minister consider giving them a substantial increase in their pension next year?

That seems to be a separate question.

Does the Minister not know how many people are in receipt of the special allowance?

(Dún Laoghaire): The Minister is answering questions that are asked.

The Minister will appreciate that pensions paid to those who took part in the War of Independance in this country are made in two forms, one in the military pension form and the other by way of a special allowance.

The question is about military service pensions.

Surely the Minister should not withhold from the House the information as to the total number of people now in receipt of one or other of these two pensions so that we can know how many of our worthy patriots are still alive.

(Dún Laoghaire): The question is to ask the Minister for Defence the number of persons at present in receipt of military pensions. The number is 1,381, which is accurate.

Is the Minister aware that in the case of some of these pensions there is a means test, and in view of the small number now receiving these pensions will the Minister of State consider asking the Government to abolish the means test for the payment of such pensions?

(Dún Laoghaire): It is the practice to increase military service pensions periodically by a percentage determined by the Minister for the Public Service by reference to the increase granted to public service pensioners generally.

Is the Minister aware that the payment of funds to 1917-21 medal holders is determined by the amount of income they have in some cases and that the payment of an old age pension by the Department of Social Welfare is taken into account in calculating a person's means and a generous allowance made in the deduction when arriving at the means? Is the Minister aware that no such generous allowance is made in the case of those in receipt of an American retirement pension, a British Government retirement pension or a retirement pension from other foreign countries? Will the Minister accept that medal holders placed in that position find that their pension is being taken off them when the means test is carried out?

The question deals with numbers only.

In view of the fact that only a small number of those great men are still alive will the Minister do the generous thing in this year's budget and make the same deduction for foreign retirement pensions as is made for Irish old age pensions? The Minister knows what I am getting at.

(Dún Laoghaire): I have answered the question tabled. The information requested relates to pensions determined by the length of service and the rank of the pensioner. Applications were decided under the 1924 Act by a board of assessors and under the 1934 Act by a referee and an advisory committee. That is the information I have supplied.