Theresa Ahearn
Question:70 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Energy the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary is receiving a reduced forestry pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Forestry Pension.
Up to 1970, retiring forestry workers were only entitled to a pension under the Social Welfare Acts. From 1 January 1970 a non-contributory pension scheme for non-established State employees was introduced to supplement their social welfare pensions.
Forest worker pensions are co-ordinated with the particular type of social welfare pension or benefit applicable on the retirees last day of paid service. A worker retiring on age grounds has his forestry pension co-ordinated with the social welfare retirement pension or old age pension as appropriate. A worker retiring on ill-health grounds has his forestry pension co-ordinated with social welfare disability benefit or invalidity pension as appropriate.
The person concerned retired on ill-health grounds in 1986 and his initial forestry pension was co-ordinated with social welfare disability benefit. He was awarded old age (contributory) pension by Department of Social Welfare from 23 September 1988. The forestry pension fell due to be reduced then in accordance with the terms of the pension scheme because the old age pension rate is higher than the disability benefit. However the combined pensions, in general in such cases should remain unchanged.
The pensions of all forest worker pensioners who retire on ill-health grounds are due to be reduced from the time they receive from Department of Social Welfare, either the retirement pension (age 65) or the old age pension (age 66).