asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that deferred pensions are being withheld from Córas Iompair Éireann employees who have attained the normal retiring age of sixty-five since they retired on compensation under the Transport Act, 1958; if so, whether he will give the reason for the non-payment; whether the Company have sought his approval to amend the existing wages grades pension scheme to meet the anomaly; when approval was sought; whether it has been granted; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Deferred Pensions of C.I.E. Employees.
18.
C.I.E. submitted some time ago an amending Pension Scheme to the existing Wages Grade Pension Scheme to provide for payment of deferred pensions so as to enable redundant employees to take advantage of the provisions of paragraph 7 of the Second Schedule to the Transport Act, 1958. The amending scheme was not confirmed under Section 44 of the Transport Act, 1950 because its provisions, taken together with those of the redundancy compensation provisions, would have involved the Exchequer in a loss. Following discussions with C.I.E. revised proposals were submitted and are under examination.
I understand from C.I.E. that to obviate any hardship which may be caused by delay in confirming an amending scheme, they propose to make interim payments to the redundant employees over 65 who are concerned.
Can the Minister say when the Board of C.I.E. submitted proposals to amend the present pension scheme to deal with this anomaly? Further, referring to the reference that interim payments would be made to the people concerned, is he aware that these payments have not been made?
In reply to the Deputy, the matter is under consideration for some time. I have already informed the Deputy that they are going to make interim payments to the retired employees.
How long has the matter been under consideration? Will the Minister answer the particular point in the question? When were submissions made by the Board of C.I.E. to the Minister to deal with this anomaly and, if he has not made a decision, when does he propose to make a decision?
There were a number of alternative proposals made so that the time when this whole question started to be reviewed is not relevant at all. There were a number of alternative proposals made. The decision was to ascertain which would be the best under the circumstances.
In respect of this difficulty, the Board of C.I.E. have made submissions to the Minister seeking his permission to amend their wages superannuation scheme so as to deal with this anomaly, and the Minister has not given them any reply since February last. Is it true to say that? Is it also true that the people concerned have not received any payment from the Board of C.I.E., and that the Board were held up because of the fact that the Minister has not given a decision?
The Deputy can take it that the matter is under consideration.
May I ask the Minister, when he does come to a decision on this matter, would he agree to accept the principle of retrospection from the time the submission was made?
I am unable to say.