Military pensions costing €1bn

Almost €1bn has been paid to retired military personnel and their dependants through the Defence Forces pension scheme in the past five years.

Pensions in respect of retired officers, NCOs and privates amounted to over €200m last year, while more than €8m was paid in disability pensions to former members or their dependants.

Almost €6m has also been paid to the spouses of veterans of the War of Independence since 2009.