asked the Minister for Health whether it is proposed to provide improvements in the superannuation scheme of physiotherapists; and, if so, when.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Superannuation of Physiotherapists.
10.
Mr. Ryan
Physiotherapists who hold permanent posts under local authorities are entitled to superannuation benefits calculated in accordance with the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1956, the provisions of which apply generally to all local authority officers and servants who are pensionable. I do not feel that any special circumstances exist in regard to physiotherapists which would justify my approaching the appropriate Minister, who is the Minister for Local Government, in regard to the superannuation provisions applying to them.
As regards physiotherapists employed in voluntary hospitals, the provision of superannuation benefits is primarily a matter for the authorities of those hospitals. I am concerned only to the extent that approved expenditure on superannuation schemes by hospitals participating in the scheme of grants from the Hospitals Trust Fund towards revenue deficits may be taken into account for the purpose of determining grants towards revenue deficits. In 1954 the Hospitals Commission, at the request of my Department, notified voluntary hospitals of the criteria which would need to be satisfied in allowing expenditure on superannuation schemes to rank for deficit purposes. Broadly, the standard was laid down in the local government superannuation code. I am aware that a number of the hospitals concerned have not introduced superannuation schemes, and that where schemes are in operation there is considerable diversity in the benefits and other conditions as between different hospitals. With a view to rationalising the position I have established a Committee, representative of the various interests concerned, which is at present examining the question of formulating a superannuation scheme which would apply generally to the staffs of the voluntary hospitals and would enable participants to transfer from one hospital to another without loss of pension rights. The position of physiotherapists in regard to such a scheme would be the same as that of other members of the hospital staffs.