asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a favourable recommendation to the Western Health Board in relation to the application for repayment of superannuation contributions by a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that he was misled by an official of the Health Board where he made his application.
Written Answers. - Repayment of Superannuation Contributions.
508.
The entitlement of an employee of a health board to have his superannuation contributions returned is a matter for determination by the health board concerned in the first instance, in accordance with the relevant legislation.
It is understood from the Western Health Board that when the contract of employment of the person concerned expired on 30 June 1983 he had five years of pensionable local service. Under the superannuation provisions governing the grade to which he belonged, an officer who resigns voluntarily, with not less than five years of pensionable local service, before pension age and who cannot reckon his local authority service in his new position is automatically entitled to preserved benefits and consequently forfeits any right to a return of superannuation contributions. Neither the health board nor the Minister can contravene these provisions. An investigation by the board failed to produce any evidence that the person was misled in the matter.