asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he will set out the principal features of the Bord na Móna superannuation scheme for manual workers under the following headings, assuming a retiring pay of £44, and 40 years service: (i) the gratuity unit per year and maximum gratuity; (ii) the service pension, unit per year and maximum pension; (iii) the gratuity payable at five years and at ten years; (iv) the service pension payable at five years and at ten years; (v) the maximum provision for added service in respect of premature retirement due to ill-health; (vi) contributions for service pension; (vii) provisions for widow's pension; (viii) contribution for widow's pension; and (ix) other significant features.
Written Answers. - Bord na Móna Superannuation Scheme.
533.
The information requested is as follows:
(1) The gratuity unit per year is one-thirtieth of retiring wages for each year of pensionable service up to a maximum of thirty-thirtieths. Retiring Wages are defined in the Turf Development Act, 1953 (Regular Works Employees) Superannuation (Amendment) No. 3 Scheme, 1972. In the case of a member earning £44 per week with 40 years' service the gratuity unit per year would amount to £88.469p and he would receive a gratuity of £2,654.08.
(2) The service pension unit per year is one eightieth of retiring wages, as defined, for each year of pensionable service up to a maximum of forty-eightieths. In the case of a member earning £44 per week with 40 years' service the service pension unit per year would amount to £14.198p and he would receive a pension of £567.84 per annum.
(3) and (4) Gratuities and pensions are payable only on reaching retiring age, or on earlier retirement on grounds of ill-health with not less than ten years' pensionable service. A member who is retired from the board's service through ill-health and who has less than ten years' pensionable service may be eligible for a gratuity equal to one twelfth of his retiring wage for each year of pensionable service. In the case of such a person who retires with five years' service earning £44 per week, the gratuity payable is determined in accordance with the regulations of the scheme and there is no standard reply. Each case would differ depending on age, length of service and taxable earnings of the individual concerned. No pension would be payable. In the case of such a person who has completed ten years' service, he would receive a gratuity of £884.69 and a pension of £141.96 per annum.
(5) In the case of retirement due to ill-health there is no provision for added service in the scheme.
(6) 3 per cent of contribution wages, as defined in the Bord na Móna (Regular Works Employees) Superannuation (Amendment) No. 3 Scheme, 1972.
(7) and (8) There is no provision for the payment of a widows' pension under the scheme.
(9) The other significant features of the scheme are contained in the Bord na Móna (Regular Works Employees) Superannuation Schemes.
I might add that a member of the Bord na Móna Superannuation Scheme for manual workers would also qualify for the appropriate social welfare pension benefits.