asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that branch managers in employment exchanges are excluded from having Army service taken into account for gratuity purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Retirement Gratuities.
411.
Managers of branch employment offices are employed under a contract for service and as such are not permanent and pensionable civil servants. There is a scheme of retirement gratuities for branch managers who retire on grounds of age or ill health or abolition of office but there is no provision within this scheme to allow for service in the Defence Forces to be taken into account in the calculation of the gratuity. This scheme was negotiated and drawn up as an agreed recommendation within the context of the Branch Manager's Conciliation Council.