asked the Minister for Social Welfare if in view of the increased cost of health services he will take steps to ensure that all members of the CIE staff will be admitted as full voluntary contributors under the Social Welfare Acts in all cases where they ceased to be compulsorily insured because they were classified as (a) pensionable civil servants and (b) pensionable employees of statutory transport undertakings.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits for CIE Staff.
43.
Employees of Córas Iompair Éireann are not classified as pensionable civil servants. Pensionable employees of that body whose terms and conditions of employment fulfil certain specified conditions may, when they cease to be compulsorily insured, become voluntary contributors paying contributions at the lower weekly rate of 3/1d. Voluntary contributors paying these contributions and their dependants, in common with persons compulsorily insured and persons paying voluntary contributions at the higher rate, are eligible for the services provided under the Health Acts to all persons in the middle income group. No action on my part is, therefore, necessary.