asked the Minister for Local Government whether he will reconsider the refusal of his Department to approve the pension granted by the Kildare County Council of £250 to Mr. E.A. Coonan, Rate Collector, after 31½ years of excellent service, in view of the fact that pensions granted to an official after 10 years' service, and to many others throughout the country, have been ratified.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - RATE COLLECTOR'S PENSION.
There is no statutory power to grant a pension to a rate collector whose whole time was not devoted to the services of a local authority. When application was made by the County Council for sanction to the pension awarded to Mr. Coonan, it was stated that whilst an officer of the Council he did not devote his whole time to the service of the county.
There is no power to enable the Minister for Local Government to waive the statutory regulations in this respect.
Arising out of that question, may I ask the Minister for Local Government if pensions have not been sanctioned to other rate collectors who are only part-time officers and who have had much less service?
No.
I was given to understand that there were, and I was given the names of the people.