Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1412: To ask the Minister for Defence the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is having their pension abated by €258.08 per month; and if he will ensure that the abatement cease and that all abatements are repaid to date. [1092/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The person referred to is in receipt of both a service pension under the Defence Forces pension schemes and a disability pension under the Army Pensions Acts from my Department. The schemes provide that, where a person in receipt of a service pension is granted a disability pension, the service pension must be reduced or abated, usually by an amount equal to one half of the disability pension. The reduction is applied to the service pension and not to the disability pension. There may be an advantage to the pensioner in this arrangement because disability pensions are exempt from income tax whereas service pensions are liable to tax. The service pension of the person in question is the subject of reduction in accordance with the provisions mentioned.