asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will give details of the pension increases for Bord na Móna workers reported to have been put forward by the Department of Finance for consideration by his Department and by Bord na Móna.
Written Answers. - Bord na Móna Pensions.
155.
The grant of pension increases to retired members of the Bord na Móna Regular Works Employees' Superannuation Scheme requires the making of an amending scheme. Section 6 of the Turf Development Act, 1953, requires that when the board has prepared an amending scheme, they shall, before submitting such a scheme to the Minister for Transport and Power for approval—
(a) publish a notice intimating that a scheme has been prepared;
(b) make a copy of the scheme available for inspection for 21 days, by the persons to whom it is to apply;
(c) receive and consider all representations made during that period by or on behalf of any of the persons to whom it is to apply;
(d) make such alterations in the scheme as they shall consider necessary or desirable having regard to the representations made to them.
If the Minister for Transport and Power, with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance, approves the scheme, it shall be carried out by the board.
There have been some preliminary consultations between the board, my Department and the Department of Finance about a suitable basis for the grant of increases in pensions but until the requirements laid down in section 6 of the Act have been fulfilled, it would be premature to give details of the kind requested by the Deputy.