asked the Minister for Local Government if, having regard to the very inadequate pensions paid to public health nurses who retired some years ago and the wide differential between pensions paid to such persons and those paid to public health nurses who are now retiring, he will have steps taken as a matter of urgency to improve the pension rates for retired public health nurses on small pensions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pensions of Public Health Nurses.
13.
Pensions of retired local authority employees including public health nurses are adjusted in line with periodic increases in other public service pensions under regulations made by the Minister for Finance in pursuance of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1964. My function is to authorise local authorities to apply any increases provided for in such regulations and I have done so in a general circular issued to local authorities on 7th October, 1965.
Is the Minister satisfied that all retired public health nurses in Dublin Health Authority area have in fact got their increases, because certainly on the figures given to me, the differentials between long-retired and recently retired are much greater than the differentials which apply to civil servants in similar grades on retirement?
I have no reason to believe they have not got them, but if the Deputy or any other Deputy feels there are specific cases, I will be glad to look into them.