asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will state, in respect of the widows of public service pensioners who retired before 1968 (1) whether he will grant full parity of pension to them; (2) the cost of providing full parity of pension to them; and (3) the number of such pensioners.
Written Answers. - Widows' Pension Schemes.
424.
I take it that the Deputy's reference to "full parity of pension" means the grant, to the public service widows concerned, of the rates of pension applicable under the contributory widows' pension schemes introduced in the public service from 1986 onwards.
The number of widows involved in the claim for parity is about 9,600, and the increased rates of pension arising from such parity would entail a cost to the Exchequer of some £3.56 million in 1985 terms. These figures include certain areas of the public service — viz. the industrial Civil Service, the local authority and health board service (employees) and the Permanent Defence Forces (non-commissioned ranks) — where contributory widows' pension schemes did not operate from 1968 but were introduced on later dates.
The Deputy will appreciate that the question of pension parity for the widows concerned is a budgetary matter which will have to be considered in the context of the 1968 provisions for public service pay and pensions generally.