asked the Minister for Local Government in what circumstances a local authority may pay pension increases to its retired employees, including road workers, mental nurses, etc.; whether a local authority is authorised to pay pension increases announced by him in Dáil Éireann in advance of specific sanction of the increases by his Department; and, if so, why certain local authority pensioners have not yet received pension increases announced by him some considerable time ago.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Pension Increases.
8.
Local authorities may subject to my sanction grant increases in pensions only in accordance with the statutory provisions relating to increases in public service pensions generally. As regards the increase of 5 per cent announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget speech the regulations provided for in the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1964, to give statutory effect to the increase are being made.
In advance of the regulations, however, local authorities, who wish to do so, have been authorised in a circular letter which issued from my Department on 6th November, 1964, to grant the increase. The award and payment of the increase authorised is entirely a matter for each local authority.