asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state how many ex-road workers in County Wexford are in receipt of pensions under Section 88 (1) of the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1948.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Workers' Pensions.
I have been informed by the Wexford County Council that one former servant of the local authority is in receipt of a pension granted under Section 88 of the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1948, and that the local authority is investigating the service of about 30 other cases with a view to determining eligibility for pension.
Would the Minister take steps now to ensure that the local authorities who received a circular from the former Minister regarding this particular section will accept the advice given by the then Minister so as to enable hundreds of these road workers to receive pensions to which they are entitled? I think that the Minister appreciates that the Act was defective and that, as a result, hundreds of these road workers who are now getting on in years may be deprived of the pensions which it was intended, under the 1948 Act, that they should receive.
I have examined some of the background of this whole matter to which the Deputy refers. I assure him that anything I can do to help to induce local authorities to proceed along the lines indicated will be done.
Pending the amending legislation, a circular was sent from the Department of Local Government giving, in effect, authority for the payment of these pensions. Many of the county managers did not act on that circular, which was, in effect, a direction or permission to pay the pensions pending the amendment of the 1948 Act.