asked the Minister for Defence if he will confirm or deny recent reports that some members of the Defence Forces are forced to seek the family income supplement.

Personnel of the Defence Forces are eligible for family income supplement on the same basis as other members of the community. Out of a total of 11,700 non-commissioned officers and privates only a very small number of privates and corporals with large families would qualify for the benefit.

Recent news media reports indicate that members of the Defence Forces had to turn to social welfare.

I am not familiar with the news media reports to which the Deputy refers but I assure the Deputy that like every other section of the community members of the Defence Forces would be eligible for family income supplement. This would be mainly applicable to people with short service or people in the lower ranks with large families. The number in receipt of FIS is very small, in the region of 30 out of a total of 11,700.

Is the Minister not aware that the FIS was brought in to help people on the lowest wages, and is it not of concern to him to find that members of the Defence Forces qualify for such assistance? By direct implication it says that the level of earnings is among the lowest in the country.

The family income supplement is available to these personnel in the same way as it is available throughout the community. A very small number of personnel are eligible, mainly people with short service and large families.

The point I made was that the FIS was available to those people in employment where it was not possible for very strong economic reasons to give them a living wage. Here we find that members of the Defence Forces——

The Deputy already made that point.

Will the Minister answer it?

I have nothing further to add. A very small number of personnel are eligible for this. They are from the non-commissioned area, mainly privates with short service or with large families. The numbers involved are about 30 out of 11,700.

My information is that the numbers are not as low as the Minister says. From the point of view of the Army is it not a very bad morale factor that certain serving troops are eligible for supplementary welfare from the State?

I am afraid we are having repetition. Can I have a reply to Question No. 4?

Will the Minister answer?

The question has already been asked twice before.