Vol. 420 No. 4
74 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if he proposes to change the terms of the Superannuation (Female Civil Servants) Regulations, 1954 and 1981 so as to allow individuals who decide to remain single and/or choose not to have children to opt out of the scheme voluntarily without receiving a refund for past contributions, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the terms of the regulations referred to by the Deputy, female established civil servants were given an opportunity in 1954 and again in 1981 to opt for superannuation on the same basis as applied to male established civil servants. In conjunction with the second option, membership of the Civil Service Spouses' and Children's Contributory Pensions Scheme was extended in 1981 to female civil servants on the same basis as for male civil servants — membership was voluntary for staff serving on and immediately prior to the date of commencement of the scheme and compulsory for staff appointed after the commencement date. The scheme operates on the insurance principle and its cost is met partly by the Exchequer and partly by members' contributions. As in any insurance based scheme the cost of meeting the liabilities which mature is balanced by savings resulting from liabilities which do not mature. To change the terms as proposed by the Deputy would discriminate against other members and would have a destabilising effect on the membership and financing of the scheme.
