Vol. 504 No. 2
246 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will permit people who have served 35 years or more as clerical officers with the local authorities but are under 65 years to purchase additional years at a nominal cost to bring their total service to or near 40 years; if he will make this provision in the forthcoming local government Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11698/99]
In line with other public sector pension schemes, the Local Government superannuation scheme allows pensionable local authority staff who would not have full service at age 65 to purchase notional service under the scheme at full actuarial cost to themselves. I have no proposals to change this system. I would point out that pensionable staff also have the option of purchasing additional retirement benefits outside of the Local Government superannuation scheme under union based additional voluntary contribution schemes managed and administered by independent trustees.
