asked the Minister for the Public Service in relation to improvements in the Civil Service widows and orphans pension entitlements the contribution rates if a pension was payable to the spouse of one-third of salary subject to an additional one-sixth if there are any eligible children so that accordingly, the maximum payable in any case would be half of salary.
Written Answers. - Civil Service Pension Scheme.
33.
Under the Civil Service spouses' and childrens' contributory pension scheme, the total contribution rate is 3 per cent of salary, half of which is borne by the State and half by the employees. Thus the existing employee contribution rate is 1½ per cent of salary. If the spouses' and children's pensions payable under the scheme were to be increased as suggested by the Deputy, it is estimated that the total contribution rate would have to be increased from 3 per cent to 4 per cent of salary to pay for such an improvement. It should however be noted that this is an estimate only — to arrive at a precise figure it would be necessary to carry out a detailed actuarial valuation of the scheme.