Vol. 195 No. 10
asked the Minister for Health if he will state with reference to the 452 administrative and other lay staff employed by the four unified health authorities (a) the annual cost of salaries and (b) the annual cost of other emoluments and pension contributions paid by the health authorities.
2.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state with reference to the 1,029 administrative and other lay staff employed by the health authorities other than the four unified health authorities (a) the annual cost of salaries and (b) the annual cost of other emoluments and pension contributions paid by the health authorities.
with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
The annual cost of salaries for the administrative and clerical staff, totalling 577—not 452 as mentioned in the question—employed by the four unified health authorities is £345,000. On the basis that the annual sum needed to meet superannuation costs ultimately is 15 per cent. of salary, and taking account of the contributions paid by staff, where such contributions are payable, the annual cost to the health authorities of superannuation payable in due course to these staffs is estimated at £43,000.
The figures for the corresponding staffs engaged whole-time on health services, totalling 452 (not 1,029 as mentioned in the question) of the remaining health authorities are £253,000 and £32,000 respectively.
The staffs concerned do not receive other emoluments.
Would the Minister state why a scheme has not been formulated for the doctors who retire under which they can have their contributions refunded?
That appears to be quite a separate question.
Would the Minister look into the matter and make arrangements for an appropriate pension scheme? We have a situation in Cork where last week two doctors retired from the voluntary health authority hospital and they could claim no pension.
That happens in many public services.
