asked the Minister for Local Government if he will extend the widows' and orphans' superannuation pension scheme, at present confined to local authority officers, to service categories such as craftsmen, fitters, plant operators and all employees working for local authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Pensions.
30.
Trade unions representing the categories of local authority workers referred to have made claims seeking certain amendments in local authority superannuation, including the application to their members of the local authorities widows' and Orphans' pension scheme. The claims are under examination in my Department.
31.
asked the Minister for Local Government when he will sanction the superannuation scheme for servants of local authorities which is at present before his Department.
The superannuation of servants of local authorities is governed by Part III of the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1956. There is no scheme, as referred to, at present before my Department for sanction. A number of proposals for amendment of the Act generally have been submitted to me and these are being examined in my Department.
Is the Minister aware that widows of servants are obliged to take out probate of their husband's estates whereas widows of officers are only obliged to submit a death certificate in order to get full benefit? Will the Minister take steps to rectify this matter.
The Deputy has not got the matter correct. When the value of an estate, which includes a pension or a gratuity, is over a certain amount —widows of servants with more than five years service may collect a substantial amount of money—probate has to be taken out because there might be a counterclaim. It is in order to protect themselves that local authorities insist on probate being taken out. The amount of money involved is very small.
Is it true that widows of officers do not have to do this; that it is confined to servants?
No, anybody with an estate of any size coming to them must have probate or the amount cannot be paid because there could be a second claim.
Is the Minister aware that regulations exist whereby the local authority may add two years service, for pension purposes, in the case of an officer who served in the Defence Forces or emergency forces whereas they are not permitted to do this in the case of a servant?
I believe it is fair to point out to the Deputy that having been a serving soldier and having represented, for 26 years, the type of people he is talking about I know a little about the pension scheme concerned. The Deputy will be pleased to know that at my request alterations are being made which will include not alone the two years but, I hope, the entire service of a serving soldier for pension purposes. It is one of the things which is coming up for discussion.
Is it a fact that servants get shorter annual leave than the most junior officer with less than 12 months' service in a local authority? If this is so will the Minister ensure that it is put right?
This has nothing to do with superannuation. The amount of annual leave is that which has been negotiated between the trade unions representing the workers and the employers, including the local authorities. I can assure the Deputy that such workers have more holidays now than they had when I took over as general secretary of a certain trade union 20 years ago.
It is still the case that these servants get less annual leave than the most junior officer.
They get 21 days annual leave whereas originally they were entitled to 10 or 11 days.