asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of the sick pay and pension provisions proposed by him following negotiations with the ICTU ad hoc group of trade unions for civilian employees of the Office of Public Works, and the Departments of Defence, Lands and Agriculture and Fisheries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Employees Sick Pay.
46.
The reply is in the form of a statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
The information requested is as follows:—
1. Particulars of improved sick pay conditions which have been offered to State industrial employees in full-time direct employment
(i) After six months' continuous service (or 34 weeks' aggregate service), sick pay at full rate (less social welfare benefit) for up to six weeks in any period of 12 months' service.
(ii) After 12 months' continuous service (or 68 weeks' aggregate service), sick pay at full rate (less social welfare benefit) for up to nine weeks in any period of 12 months' service.
(iii) The restriction on the admission of employees who are under 21 years of age will be removed.
These proposals, if accepted, will have effect from 1st April, 1970.
2. The proposed pension scheme provides pensions and lump sums for temporary full-time workers directly employed by the State on or after 1st January, 1970, who have not hitherto been pensionable and who retire on age or ill health with at least ten years reckonable service. The normal retirement age under the scheme is 70. The principal benefits are—
Pension:— 1/80th of pensionable pay for each year of reckonable service up to a maximum of 40/80ths. Pensionable pay means retiring pay less twice the rate of contributory old age pension payable to a single man on the last day of reckonable service.
Lump sum:—1/30th of pay for each year of reckonable service up to a maximum of 45/30ths.
Death benefit, payable on death in service after at least five years reckonable service, is a year's pay or the appropriate retirement lump sum if greater.
In the case of lump sum and death benefit no deduction is made from pay in respect of social welfare benefits.
These are the main provisions of the scheme. If and when they are accepted by the unions, details will be worked out in consultation with the parties concerned.