asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has granted to the Great Southern Railways Company an extension of time for the preparation of a superannuation scheme under Section 57 of the Railways Act, 1924, and whether he can give an assurance that delay in the preparation of the scheme will not operate in any way to prejudice the interests of the employees concerned.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - RAILWAY SUPERANNUATION SCHEME.
TOMAS MAC EOIN
An extension of six months was granted to the Great Southern Railways Company to prepare for discussion with the Trades Unions representing the employees a scheme for providing on a contributory basis a superannuation fund for such of the employees as can, with due regard to actuarial considerations, be provided for out of such fund, and this extension was authorised in view of the magnitude of the task and the important actuarial considerations to be determined. I am satisfied that the provision of sufficient time to ensure that a sound scheme is devised can in no way prejudice the interests of the employees.
Is the Minister cognisant of the position of the employees? Is he aware that if one year is allowed to elapse before the scheme is brought forward there will be a prejudice, unless the whole scheme is made to date from the period first anticipated?
I understand that all that it is obligatory on the Great Southern Railways Company to do is to bring forward a scheme for discussion. The employees would not necessarily be benefited in any way by pressure on the Company to put the scheme into operation at a particular time or to make it retrospective, because that might only result in having the contributions fixed on what might be regarded as a prohibitive scale.