asked the Minister for Defence the amount of ration money being deducted from soldiers on prison duty and Border duty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

(Limerick West): The current deduction for rations is £1.68 per day.

The deduction is not made, however, in the case of:

(a) a married man who is away from his permanent station and separated from his family on temporary duty;

(b) a married man on Border duty who is precluded from returning home for his meals.

Would the Minister not agree that deducting ration money from soldiers on Border duty and so forth is not the proper thing to do as these men are exposed to all weathers and they spend most of their duty time out in the open? That they should still have to pay for rations is out of order.

(Limerick West): A married man who is away from his permanent station and separated from his family on temporary duty and a married man on Border duty is not liable for the deduction of £1.68 per day for rations. Single NCOs and privates who are normally required to live in barracks are issued with rations of three meals per day plus extra rations where necessary — for example, when they are on patrol or on guard duty. The deduction of £1.68 per day in respect of the cost of the rations is made from their pay. I am sure the Deputy will agree that at a charge of £1.68 per day it is well worth it.

The duty money of the soldiers is small enough in comparison to other groups. I do not agree at all with deducting ration money from their pay.

The Deputy has made that point already.

(Limerick West): The deduction of £1.68 per day is related to the actual cost of the food, plus an administrative charge. The current charge was introduced on 1 January 1987 and is at present under review.