asked the Minister for Education whether: (i) the pensions of officers of vocational education committees who are paid a basic salary and bonus were calculated in accordance with Section 46 of the Local Government Act, 1925; (ii) whether such officers have been offered consolidation of salary and bonus related to an index figure of 270 instead of the index figure of 210 as fixed by the Local Authorities (Cost of Living) Amendment Act, 1945; (iii) whether officers who accept this offer will be deprived of the benefits of the method of computing pension laid down in Section 46 of the Local Government Act, 1925; (iv) whether officers who decline to accept the offer will get no increase in pay, and whilst being left subject to Section 46 of the Local Government Act, 1925, can get no increase in pension; and (v) whether, in consultation with the Minister for Local Government, he will arrange that existing officers who accept the consolidation offer, and existing pensioners to whom Section 46 of the Local Government Act, 1925, was applicable, will receive a pension equal to that which would be payable to them under that section, reckoning cost-of-living bonus at the index figure of 270 which was adopted for the purposes of consolidation of pay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Officers of Vocational Education Committees.
Mr. Corish
Statutory responsibility for matters relating to the superannuation of officers of vocational education committees, in common with all other officers of local bodies, is entrusted to the Minister for Local Government and, as the Deputy is aware, a Bill dealing with the subject is at present before the Oireachtas. I have already conveyed to the responsible Minister representations received by me from associations representing the vocational education officers, but I cannot make any promise regarding the manner in which they will be dealt with.