Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Defence if the pension issue of a person (details supplied) will be resolved; and if he will work closely with this person's widow. [13969/04]

Michael Smith (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The person in question is in receipt of a non-contributory pension in accordance with the terms of the Defence Forces (pensions) schemes. She will qualify for a contributory pension under the terms of the contributory spouses' and children's pension scheme in June 2005, when the full contribution liability to the scheme will have been met. At that stage her non-contributory pension will be replaced by the contributory pension.

The husband of the widow in question had been given an option to join the contributory spouses' and children's pension scheme in April 1985. He was informed that in the event of his death before the total contribution liability under the scheme had been discharged, his spouse would not qualify for immediate payment of a contributory pension and that there would be a "waiting period" before this pension commenced to take account of the outstanding contribution liability.