Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2024
100. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 9 May 2023, if he will revisit the supports provided by his Department to family members of former Defence Forces personnel, including funeral costs for family members as an additional benefit, to aid recruitment and retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24628/24]
View answerAs outlined in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 9 May 2023, my Department provides support to two recognised Veterans Associations which represent all former personnel of the Defence Forces, namely the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE), and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA). My Department engages on an ongoing basis with these associations and has entered into Service Level Agreements with them. An annual grant of €130,000 is paid to ONE and a grant of €30,000 is paid to IUNVA to assist with their overheads. As a further means of assistance, my Department has secured a total of €900,000 from the Dormant Accounts Fund since 2021 in order to assist ONE and IUNVA with specific special projects.
Funeral costs for family members of former Defence Forces personnel are not funded by the Exchequer. I am informed that the Defence Forces Benevolent Fund, which is funded from contributions of serving Defence Forces personnel, may make a contribution to funeral expenses on a case-by-case basis.
