asked the Minister for Finance the approximate cost of bringing State pensions up to the limit of current retirement pensions; and if, in view of the hardship that many pensioners are undergoing, he will consider this question when framing his next Budget proposals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Pensions.
23.
When introducing this year's pensions increases, I indicated that the cost of raising public service pensions to take account of post-war movements in the cost of living, with special provision for the older pensioners, was estimated at approximately £1.3 million. The Deputy will appreciate that the increases provided for in this estimate were within the limits of the percentage increase shown by the movements of the cost of living figures in the post-war period.
The increases granted in this year's Budget, which are estimated to cost £820,000 in a full year, have brought all pensions up to a floor at 1955 salary level, with a further increase of 6% on top of that. This was a very substantial benefit, particularly for the older pensioners. In fact, this increase has now brought all pensions closer to the level of the cost of living figure to which current salaries are linked than any previous general pensions increase.
Any question of further increases must be considered with reference to financial and economic conditions generally, and I cannot give any undertaking about future possibilities at this stage. Such figures as are available indicate that the cost of bringing all pensions up to the limit of current retirement pensions would be very substantial. The work involved in preparing an estimate of the kind requested by the Deputy would be too considerable to undertake at present.
24.
asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that hardship is commonly caused to civil servants on their retirement by the withholding of payment of pension and gratuity for an unreasonable period after the date of retirement; and whether he will see that steps are taken to obviate such unreasonable delay.
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the negative and the second part of the question does not therefore arise.