asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the introduction of proposals for legislation to enable increases to be granted to mental hospital pensioners.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mental Hospital Pensioners.
asked the Minister for Health if he intends to introduce proposals for legislation enabling local authorities to grant an increase in superannuation allowance to retired mental hospital attendants.
With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, I will take Question No. 106 and Question No. 107 together.
The provisions of the Pensions Increase Act, 1950, and of Section 79 of the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1948, allowed of increases in the pensions of mental hospital employees in company with other local authority employees generally, beyond the statutory limits normally applicable. These provisions had effect in relation to the general body of superannuated employees who retired prior to the 1st April, 1950.
Any proposal for the further review of the pensions granted to the employees of mental hospital authorities would require to be examined in relation to the adjustment of pensions of superannuated employees of public authorities, both central and local, as a whole and, accordingly, without such examination, it would not be possible to undertake the introduction of further legislation in this matter.