asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he will consider amending the Transport Act, 1958, to allow for the reviewing of redundancy payments made to former CIE employees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - CIE Redundancy Compensation.
7.
No. The level of redundancy compensation payable under the Transport Act, 1958, is very resonable, the maximum being an annual sum equivalent to two-thirds retiring pay, and is not to my knowledge equalled in any other country.
Having regard to the position in respect of other pensioners, would the Minister use his good offices with CIE to prevail on them to show more sympathy to those people who retired under this particular Act?
As the Deputy is aware, I have been helpful in having the circumstances of other CIE pensioners mitigated but, in all the circumstances, I regard this particular provision as reasonable. However, I shall look into the matter.
Is it a fact that there are certain CIE pensioners receiving something like 25s a week at the moment?
They would be pensioners who opted for a lump sum and, if the Deputy puts down a question, I will give him all the details.
Are there pensioners of CIE, a State company, receiving less than 25s a week?
There are also pensioners receiving up to £10 and £12 per week. These particular pensioners opted for a lump sum on retirement. If the Deputy puts down a question I will give him all the details. There is a lump sum to offset any diminution in the actual pension.
It is a peculiar picture in this day and age to have a pension of 25s a week.