Vol. 179 No. 8
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will take steps, if necessary by the introduction of legislation, to ensure that all Córas Iompair Éireann employees enjoy on retirement equal pensions appropriate to their rank and service, irrespective of whether they retired before or after 1st April, 1956.
12.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he has received representations that the Córas Iompair Éireann Wages Grade Pension Scheme, as approved in October, 1957, is unfair to pensioners who retired prior to 1st April, 1956; and, if so, what action he has taken in relation to such representations.
With the permission of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.
Certain representations have been received in this matter from time to time. The position is that pension rates are related to the contributions previously made to the pension fund by the pensioners concerned and by C.I.E. The full cost of any increase in pensions to existing C.I.E. pensioners, as in the case of one such increase already granted, would fall to be met by C.I.E. in the form of ex-gratia payments.
C.I.E. superannuation schemes may be amended under existing legislation on the initiative of C.I.E. The extent to which C.I.E. would, however, be prepared to add to their already substantial commitments for pension purposes is a matter falling entirely within the discretion of the Board.
Will the Minister agree that the number of elderly pensioners who retired prior to 1956 is inevitably on the decline? The number of persons affected is very small and they are not in a position to wield any effective bargaining power. Would the Minister not agree that he has a public duty to take up the case of these people and to convey to the board of C.I.E. the representations made to him?
C.I.E. did in fact increase the pensions of the lower group recently at a cost of £17,000 per annum. These were men who opted for the five years scheme and who received the higher pension for that time and then reverted to the lower pension. They now have had that lower pension doubled ex gratia by C.I.E.
Would the Minister not agree that an increase such as he mentions, which has cost only £17,000 out of £2,750,000, is very small indeed? In view of this, would the Minister not agree that he should convey the representations made to him to the board?
In reply to the Deputy's further question, I want to say that this is a current fund arising out of the contribution of current employees.
