Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Dec 1980

Vol. 325 No. 3

Written Answers. - Bord na Móna Workers' Scheme.

264.

Mr. Tully

asked the Minister for Energy the principal proposals submitted by Bord na Móna to his Department regarding improvements in the superannuation scheme for manual workers; and the extent to which these proposals have been sanctioned or not sanctioned.

Minister for Energy (Mr. Colley)

Details of the principal proposals for improvements in the superannuation scheme for manual workers which have been submitted by Bord na Móna for ministerial approval are set out in the attached statement.

All of the improvements, with the exception of those contained in draft amending schemes Nos. 5 and 6 (of 1980) have been approved. Schemes Nos. 5 and 6 have been approved in principle subject to certain alterations which are at present being considered by Bord na Móna in consultation with my Department and the Department of the Public Service.

Following is the statement:

Title of Scheme	Principal Improvements
Turf Development Act, 1953 (Regular Works Employees) Superannuation (Amendment) Scheme, 1967.	Relates solely to changes in death benefit (Regulation 27). Principal proposal provides that the legal personal representative can request commutation of pension as well as dependent relatives and where there is no dependent relative that the benefit may be paid to the legal personal representative for the benefit of the pensioner's next of kin. Under existing regulations death benefit was payable only to dependent relatives. This gave rise to difficulties because of the fact that dependency as defined did not always exist.
Turf Development Act, 1953 (Regular Works Employees) Superannuation (Amendment) Scheme, 1978.	Regulation 2(39)	The addition of definition of `retiring wage for the calculation of benefits.
	Regulation 18	Addition allows the reckoning of service in accordance with Section 4 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1963 and Local Government Superannuation Act, 1956
	Regulation 22	Alteration in the contribution rate.
	Regulations 24 and 27	Crediting of full `prior service' (service prior to 14.3.1963) as against half `prior service' for calculation of benefits. Increase in retirement gratuity from £100 to a maximum of one year's retiring wage and alteration in calculation of pensions from `pension units' to 1/80ths of retiring wage for each year of pensionable service subject to a maximum of 40/80ths less twice the annual equivalent of the Old Age (Contributory) Pension payable in respect of a single man.
	Regulation 34	Provides for member with 20 years service whose membership ceases because of redundancy to receive deferred gratuity and pension at age 65 years.
	Regulation 46	Allows the Superannuation Committee, with the consent of the Board, grant such increases in pensions as may be authorised from time to time by the Minister with the consent of Minister for the Public Service.
Turf Development Act, 1953 (Regular Works Employees) Superannuation (Amendment) Scheme, 1980.	Regulations 2(18), (22), (23), (25), (32) and (39a)	Alterations provide for entry of seasonal employees to the Scheme.
	Regulation 19(3)	Alteration allowed for the admission to the Scheme, for a 3 month designated period in 1974, of those employees who refused to join since the Scheme was introduced in 1963.
	Regulation 22	Alteration in the contribution rate.
	Regulation 34(1)	The substitution of 10 years service for 20 years service in the case of a member whose membership ceases because of redundancy.
	Regulation 34(2)	Provides that where a member's employment has been terminated by the Board he shall be given the right to refund to the Fund the contributions already returned to him with interest and thereby obtain credit for all past pensionable service.
	Regulation 23	Allows a member the option to purchase in whole or in part any full-time continuous service rendered by him immediately prior to date of entry to the Scheme or in the case of a seasonal employee service rendered by him in consecutive years immediately prior to his entry to the Scheme. The amount of the contribution arising from the foregoing to be determined by the Acturay and the Board to make payments into the fund equal to the aggregate of the member's contributions.
Turf Development Act, 1953 (Regular Works Employees) Superannuation (Amendment) (No. 4) Scheme, 1980.	Regulation 22	Alteration to permit a member at his own expense to pay voluntary additional contributions to the fund in order to secure increased benefits.
Turf Development Act, 1953 (Regular Works Employees) Superannuation (Amendment) (No. 5) Scheme, 1980.	Regulation 19(3)	Addition which would allow into membership of the Scheme during the period 1.11.1980 to 31.1.1981 employees who although qualified did not apply for membership during the opening of the Scheme in 1974.
Turf Development Act, 1953 (Regular Works Employees) Superannuation (Amendment) (No. 6) Scheme, 1980.	Regulation 22(1)	Alteration in the contribution rate to 4.1%.
	Regulation 23	Addition which would provide for `added years' (maximum 10 years) to be added to service of a member who had to retire on grounds of ill-health subject to a limit of potential service at age 65.
	Regulation 24(1)	Reduction of the qualifying period for pension and lump sum benefits from 10 years pensionable service to 5 years pensionable service. Changing of the fraction of 1/30th in the calculation of the lump sum and death benefit to 3/80ths subject to a maximum of 120/80ths.