asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether any scheme for the superannuation upon retirement of unestablished clerks employed in Circuit Court offices is under consideration; if he will state when it is anticipated that the scheme will be put into operation; further if no such scheme is under consideration at present, if he will state when it is expected that his Department will deal with the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Circuit and District Court Clerks.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether any scheme for the superannuation upon retirement of District Court clerks is under consideration; if he will state when it is anticipated that the scheme will be put into operation and, if no such scheme is under consideration at present, if he will state when it is expected that his Department will deal with the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together. Both classes of clerks are pensionable when the conditions laid down in the Superannuation Acts are fulfilled, but not otherwise. In the majority of cases, these conditions are not fulfilled. In the case of District Court clerks, the usual obstacle is that the clerk is not employed whole-time as required by the Superannuation Acts. This is a fatal objection. In the case of clerks in Circuit Court offices, some are eligible in every respect except that they were not appointed with a certificate from the Civil Service Commissioners. Legislation would be required to overcome this objection. Proposals in that respect are under discussion with the Department of Finance.