asked the Minister for Lands the reason for the delay in granting the application of a person (name supplied) in County Tipperary for a gratuity for his years of service in the forestry branch of his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gratuity for Forestry Worker.
23.
Prior to the passing of the Superannuation Act, 1963, the position of forestry workers under section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1887, presented considerable difficulty. The person to whom the Deputy referred had ceased work in 1962 and his entitlement position was not in fact clarified until February, 1968, when a gratutity was paid to him.
The Minister is, of course, aware that there is a considerable number of these cases, some of them dating back several years, and would he ask his colleague to deal more expeditiously with them? Seven or eight years is too long.
It is too long. I shall do what the Deputy requests.