Vol. 208 No. 1
asked the Minister for Finance whether because of increased living costs the pensions of all retired State servants will be increased by twelve per cent; whether this increase will be given from the same date as that which applies in the case of State servants generally; if he will state the estimated annual increase in expenditure involved; and whether the increase will be granted in addition to any adjustments which may have been made already in certain areas.
8.
asked the Minister for Finance, if he is aware that the last increase in State pensions brought them up to 1959 standards; and if he intends to grant a further increase immediately to bring them up to 1964 standards.
9.
asked the Minister for Finance whether, following the twelve per cent wage increase granted to serving civil servants, he has under consideration any comparable increase in the pensions of retired civil servants, with particular application to the 1,553 lower grade retired civil servants mentioned in a reply of 11th February, who are at present in receipt of pension of under £6 per week.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 8 and 9 together.
The position is as indicated in my reply of 29th January, 1964, to questions on this subject by Deputies Cosgrave, Barrett and Ryan.
10.
asked the Minister for Finance whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed at a general meeting of the Joint Council of Retired State Servants held on 15th January, 1964, calling for the enactment of legislation guaranteeing all State servants of equal rank and service equal pensions, irrespective of the date of retirement; and whether he will now consider the enactment of such legislation.
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the affirmative; the answer to the second part is in the negative. As I have indicated in reply to previous questions, the grant of increases in public service pensions is kept under consideration by the Government in relation to national economic and financial conditions.
