asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware of the representations made by CIE wages staff pensioners' association to the General Manager of CIE in respect of the inadequacy and injustice of the current pension scheme; and, if so, whether he will instruct the Board of CIE to have these representations sympathetically considered in the Board's current examination regarding possible changes in the pension scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - CIE Pensions.
5.
I am informed by CIE that the Board has received representations on behalf of existing wages grade pensioners and has pointed out in reply that the examination which is being made at the present time is concerned with possible changes in the pensions which would be payable to staff still in the company's service, and that any changes which might emerge would not affect the pensions of staff already retired.
The position in this regard is that unless the existing members of the pension schemes were prepared to agree to an amendment of the scheme to provide for an increase in the rates of pensions payable to existing pensioners, the full cost of any such increase would have to be borne entirely on an ex gratia basis by CIE.
The rates of pension payable to pensioners who retired from CIE since April, 1963, are as provided for in the amending pension schemes confirmed by me in March, 1965, following the recommendations of the Commission on CIE Pensions and Sickness Benefit Payments. The Board and the trade unions concerned are still in negotiation about certain aspects of the recommendations of the Commission.
CIE wages grade pensioners qualify for social welfare benefits and will be entitled to the increased rates of pension just announced by the Minister for Finance in the course of his Budget speech.