asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will indicate the position regarding the eligibility of retired CIE employees for pension increases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - CIE Pensions.
25.
There is no statutory provision in the CIE superannuation schemes for giving increases in pensions to former employees of the board.
The board themselves have, however, paid increases in pensions to pensioners from the salaried and clerical grades and to pre-April, 1963, wages grades pensioners. Post April, 1963, wage grade pensioners are, of course, eligible for social welfare retirement and old age pensions which are increased from time to time and are due to be increased again from October next.
Will the Minister not accept that CIE employees should have the same right as other State and semi-State employees to have their pensions increased in the same way as the pensions of all State servants are being increased now, and to get this parity applied in their case.
In principle, I agree with the Deputy. The Transport Salaried Staff Association and the CIE Pensioners Association have applied for adjustment in the pensions of retired salaried staff on the same basis as that announced by the Minister for Finance for public service pensioners in the Budget. This application is being considered at the moment. It has to be considered between the association concerned and CIE and then submitted to me. I am awaiting the submission. It will be favourably dealt with.
Is it likely that the CIE pensioners will get parity?
I will examine the submission when it comes to me after CIE have consulted with the association concerned.