asked the Minister for Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to make provision for payment of an increased rate of pension to retired county council road workers; and, if so, when.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Pensions of Road Workers.
53.
Legislation to provide for increases in pensions of county council road workers is already in existence. Pensions of retired local authority employees including road workers 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. The most recent increase was authorised in a general circular issued to local authorities on the 7th October, 1965. I am not in a position to say when a further increase may be authorised.
Will the Minister agree road workers' pensions have not been adjusted since 1964? The circular arrived in 1965. The next time the Minister is sending out a circular, will he send it out couched in plain terms instead of the kind of document sent out by his Department on the last occasion; one would want the Attorney General and a few High Court judges to interpret it?
Is the Minister aware that road workers who retired when the scheme was first introduced have received very low pensions and there is, therefore, a necessity for an adjustment at the lower end of the scale? Will the Minister consider that when making his next authorisation?
That is an entirely different question. I do not think it would be feasible to alter these conditions retrospectively.
Not retrospectively —just as they are now.
The proportionate increase is, I think, reasonable.
The Minister has authority to increase by a different proportion those who retired between 1948 and 1966. The Minister can do it if he wants to do it. If he does not want to do it, that is his responsibility.
There is more involved than wanting.