asked the Minister for Local Government if he will ascertain and state as regards the improved short-service gratuity under section 39 (2) of the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1956, whether Dublin County Council granted the full gratuity of a year's pay to servants with five years' service and less than ten years' service after the 1st April, 1956; and, if so, if he will state the number of such gratuities granted; and whether the local authority later decided to reduce the short-service gratuity to a graded payment equal to a month's pay for each year of service; and, if so, if he will state the number of gratuities granted under the revised arrangements and the date on which the short-service gratuity was reduced from a year's pay for five years' service or over to a month's pay for each year of service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Short-service Gratuity: Dublin Payments.
60.
The information requested by the Deputy is not available in the records of my Department. I have no function in connection with the granting of short service gratuities under section 39 of the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1956, except in the event of a statutory appeal against a decision of a local authority being made to me by a pensionable servant. In the circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to approach the Dublin County Council for the information referred to by the Deputy.