asked the Minister for Transport and Power (a) the dates on which proposals to amend the ESB pension scheme were submitted to his Department, (b) the nature of the proposals, and (c) the date on which the scheme is likely to be laid before Dáil Éireann.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - ESB Pension Scheme.
31.
The Electricity Supply Board submitted to me on 5th August, 1966, a scheme amending the Manual Workers' Superannuation Scheme, 1943. In accordance with the terms of section 5 of the Electricity Supply Board (Superannuation) Act, 1942, I found, after consultation with the Minister for Finance, that the scheme, as submitted could not be confirmed until certain modifications had been made therein. Further consultations on the matter took place with the ESB and the Minister for Finance and the ESB submitted revised amending schemes on 3rd October, 1967, and on 7th March, 1968.
It transpires that it will be necessary to amend the Electricity Supply Board (Superannuation) Act, 1942, to give effect to a proposal in the amending scheme that a manual worker may reckon for pension purposes one half of his service before entry to the scheme. I hope to introduce the necessary amending legislation very shortly.
In the meantime, I have, after consultation with the Minister for Finance, informed the ESB that I will raise no objection to the board implementing with effect from 12th December, 1967, the terms of the proposed amending scheme on an interim basis pending the enactment of the necessary legislation and introduction of a scheme confirming these arrangements. The main benefit under the new scheme is that an employee with full service can now get a pension equivalent to half his annual wage in the 12 months preceding retirement together with a lump sum retirement benefit equivalent to one year's wages.
It is proposed that the amending legislation will also provide for improvements in the benefits of those members of the board's staff who were not eligible for supplementary allowances by reason of the fact that they were under 40 years of age on the date of passing of the 1942 Act.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say when the board were informed by letter that they could anticipate legislation?
I think it was in the early part of the year.
If that is so, has the Parliamentary Secretary any information as to what, in fact, has been done in the meantime?
I have not that available to me. It is a long time ago—there was a news release quite a time ago on this.
The Parliamentary Secretary mentioned the date 12th November, 1968. That is quite a time ago. Why was 12th November, 1968, selected? Surely that was either the date on which notification was sent——
The 12th December, 1967, immediately following the Department of Finance sanction.
Was it not November?
It was 12th December, 1967.
Can I take it from the Parliamentary Secretary that the ball is now in the ESB court—that they are the people who must make the next move?
The Deputy can take that.
When does the Parliamentary Secretary anticipate that legislation will be introduced?
It should be in the next Dáil——
In the next session or the next Dáil? Of course the two are synonymous.
The next Dáil session.