Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of surviving veterans of the War of Independence who rendered active service; if there is an intention to honour them in a special way on the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Rising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23736/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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There are only two surviving veterans of the War of Independence who rendered active service and are in receipt of military service pensions from my Department. As regards the question of honouring surviving veterans, the special 90th anniversary commemoration of the events of Easter 1916 constituted a most significant public recognition by the State of the roles played by all who participated in the events of 1916 through to 1922.

The surviving veterans were invited to be guests on the reviewing stand for the military parade and later at an official reception in Dublin Castle. On a related note, I was pleased to be able to announce a substantial increase in the War of Independence pensions in the context of the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. The pensions were increased by 50% retrospectively to 1 April 2006. They were last increased in mid-2004 when a 50% increase was also applied.