ARCOIreland met recently with officials of the Dept of Defence. The following issues were discussed.
Ceremonies – Óglaigh na hÉireann. On 24 November a ceremony, attended by the President and an Taoiseach, will be held at the Garden of Remembrance to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Irish Volunteers. In conjunction with the ceremony, Military Archives will mount an exhibition in the Rotunda over the weekend of 24/25 November.
Defence Forces Memorial Merrion Square. A Military Guard will be ceremonially deployed at the Defence Forces Memorial on each Saturday during June, July and August. Further details will be posted when available.
Local Property Tax. The Department advised that pensioners will be able to pay their Local Property Tax by means of a pension deduction. For further information please see:
www.revenue.ie/en/tax/lpt/local–property-tax-guide.pdf
"Your guide to Local Property Tax & how to pay and file".
Payment Arrangements of Pensions. The Department of Defence has advised ARCOIreland that the payment of the monthly pension will change from the current 20th of the month to the end of the month over the next year. The Department is anxious that pensioners who have financial and other commitments tied into the current payment date are given sufficient time to make adjustments to these personal arrangements. The Department’s intention is to phase in the change over a number of months and would like to hear from pensioners who may have particular difficulties with this proposal. The payment of the December cheque will continue to be made prior to Christmas. The Department will update the Pensions Information Section of its website at ARCOIreland’s request. (http://www.defence.ie/website.nsf/home+page?openform)
A further meeting will take place in March to discuss the implications for pensioners arising from the draft agreement on public service pay.
