asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the plight of former agents of his Department who on retirement after more than 30 years service receive no pension and are consequently suffering serious hardship; and if steps will be taken to remedy the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Retired Social Welfare Employees.
29.
Local agents were transferred from the former National Health Insurance Society to my Department on the 1st August, 1950. Under the terms of their employment with the society they were temporary part-time officials who were not entitled to pension or gratuity on retirement, and, in fact, their remuneration had an element in it by way of compensation for their non-pensionability. Since coming into the Civil Service they have continued to be employed on a part-time, temporary basis and, as in the case of other groups in this category, are not entitled to pensions. Some years ago, however, my Department succeeded in having agents made eligible for gratuities and those agents who have retired since the 1st April, 1967, have been paid such gratuities. I might mention that local agents are insurable under the Social Welfare Acts and should, therefore, be eligible for contributory old age pension.
Will the Minister consider the case of a man who retired after 36 years service? While he is now eligible for the ordinary old age pension, he is nonetheless in serious financial difficulties. Would the Minister consider introducing a scheme whereby all people who retired prior to 1967 would receive some kind of pension in respect of their long and dedicated service?
It is a general principle that part-time temporary people are not pensionable and this particular employment has not been treated in a different way. It would not be possible to deal with individual cases on an ad hoc basis.
Would the Minister not agree that the part-time temporary status is on the way out and that the number of people in this category are diminishing with the passage of time? Would it not be just to render some recognition to them by giving them a suitable allowance at the date of their retirement?
I do not think it would be feasible to deal with every retired part-time temporary worker in the way the Deputy suggests.