asked the Minister for Transport and Power the date on which he received a request for a meeting with the trade unions in connection with the proposed Bord na Móna superannuation scheme; the date of the meeting; and the date on which the scheme was sanctioned.
Written Answers. - Bord na Móna Superannuation Scheme.
151.
Under section 6 of the Turf Development Act, 1953, Bord na Móna may prepare and submit superannuation schemes to me and I may approve such schemes with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance.
The Bord na Móna Group of Unions asked me on 16th August 1973 to discuss an amendment to the existing superannuation scheme which had been submitted by Bord na Móna. This amendment is under examination in my Department in consultation with the Department of Finance and when this examination has been completed and before making any decision in the matter I will be prepared to receive a deputation from the trade unions.
152.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if any proposals for an amendment of the Bord na Móna superannuation scheme have been submitted for approval by the Board; and, if so, if he will state (a) the date of submission (b) the terms of the proposed new scheme and (c) the nature of trade union representations, if any.
The following is the information requested regarding superannuation schemes submitted for my approval by Bord na Móna:—
Turf Development Act, 1953 (General Employees) Superannuation (Amendment) (No. 9) Scheme.
(a) This scheme was submitted to me by the board on 29th June, 1973.
(b) The general terms of the scheme are as follows:—
(1) co-ordination of Social Welfare benefits and scheme benefits.
(2) provision of a supplementary pension to persons who would not be entitled to a full Social Welfare retirement pension.
(3) increase in maximum pension from £3,000 to £4,000 per annum.
(4) reduction from 20 years to ten years in the period for qualification for the option of withdrawing superannuation contributions with interest on redundancy or drawing a pension and gratuity at age 60 or earlier for health reasons.
(5) provision to enable a member, whose employment has been terminated by the board to refund to the scheme his contributions (with interest) and thereby obtain credit for whatever pensionable service entitlement he had prior to termination of employment.
(c) I have received no trade union representations regarding the scheme.
Turf Development Act, 1953 (Regular Works Employees) Superannuation (Amendment) (No. 3) Scheme.
(a) This scheme was submitted by the board on 8th August, 1972.
(b) The general terms of the scheme are as follows:—
(1) The amending scheme provides that a member's retiring wage will be his basic wage rate (i.e. own job rate) including service pay plus 16 per cent for shift pay and contributions will also be deducted on this basis. Present members will have the right to opt for basic wage rate (i.e. own job rate) including service pay (i.e. excluding the plus 16 per cent).
(2) It is proposed to reduce the contribution rates from 4.2 per cent to the equivalent of 3 per cent.
(3) The scheme ensures that if, for any reason, a member's basic wage rate is reduced he need not suffer a reduction in pension or gratuity. In such circumstances a member will have the option of continuing to pay his contributions on the higher wage rate which he has relinquished or on the reduced rate. His pension and gratuity will be calculated in accordance with his option.
(4) The scheme will be amended to provide that when re-employed a member shall have the right to refund to the scheme his returned contributions plus interest, and thereby obtain credit for whatever pensionable service entitlement he had prior to termination of employment. Previous employment must however have been terminated by the board and not of the member's own accord.
(5) A reduction from 20 years to ten years in the period for qualification for the option of withdrawing on redundancy superannuation contributions with interest or drawing a pension and gratuity.
(6) A change in the scheme to provide that the stocks and shares in the fund be vested in Allied Irish Holdings Ltd. instead of the Munster and Leinster Nominee Co. Ltd.
(7) An amendment relating to what absences of employment constitute a break in subsequent service of a member.
(c) I have received no representations regarding the scheme.
Turf Development Act, 1953 (Regular Works Employees) Superannuation (Amendment) (No. 4) Scheme.
(a) This scheme was submitted by the board on 11th July, 1973.
(b) The terms of the scheme are as follows:
(1) All present and future employees both regular and seasonal between the ages of 18 and 55 years (and over 55 years in certain circumstances) would be able to join the existing scheme at their own option at any time.
(2) It would no longer be necessary for an employee to have 12 months' service before being elegible to join.
(3) The barrier to admission to the scheme of these employees who refused to join since it was first introduced in 1963 would now be removed.
(4) The service of the seasonal employee would be the aggregate of his seasonal service, i.e. the total number of weeks worked over the years divided by 52.
(5) The retiring wage for a seasonal employee would be the wage payable to him at date of retirement or death if he was working at the date or otherwise the wage payable to him on the last day he worked prior to date of his retirement or death.
(6) Contributions which have hitherto been based on a dual system (i.e. 85 per cent of contribution wages and 4.4 per cent of contribution wages after deducting twice the amount of the Old Age Pension (single rate) would now be calculated at a single rate of 3 per cent of contribution wages (as defined).
The Bord na Móna Group of Unions within the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has made the following representations regarding the scheme:
(1) The admission age be reduced to 16 years (instead of 18 years) in harmony with the Social Welfare Acts and the Redundancy Payments Acts.
(2) An employee who retired, or who was retired, from the board's service for reasons of age or health between 31st August, 1972, and 29th March, 1973, should be eligible to be a member of the scheme.
(3) An employee who was not eligible to enter the scheme before 31st August, 1972, (and in particular, an employee who could not otherwise qualify for ten years' reckonable service), should be enabled to make arrears payments into the Fund in order to qualify for reckonable service in respect of any part of the period between 26.3.63, and 29.3.73—and the board should make a matching payment.
(4) Where an employee has at least 26 weeks' service in the final year of service in which the employee attains the retiring age, he shall be given the option of remaining at work, or to pay arrears of contribution, in order to qualify for a full year's service.
(5) If difficulties occur in establishing service because of incomplete records, the board's records for the periods of recorded service might also determine assumed service for the periods where records are covered by records and his service record as respects incomplete.
(6) The objects of the scheme should be extended to include redundancy compensation (as in other schemes), and also to qualify for possible subventions from EEC funds—subject to amending legislation.
(7) The board should be liable for all payments into the fund in respect of service—
(a) between 1953 and 1963,
(b) prior to 1953,
and for payments to qualify for possible EEC subventions, subject to amending legislation.
(8) Should there be a surplus in the fund following a valuation, provision should be made for the granting of a gratuity or allowance to surviving widows of deceased members.
(9) The 1963 scheme amended to date should be consolidated and printed. The operative date of changes should be recorded as a marginal note opposite the alterations.