Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Nov 1996

Vol. 472 No. 1

Written Answers. - Pension Adjustments.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Question:

230 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Justice whether gardaí and prison officers, who have concluded or are concluding agreements under the restructuring option of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work have been informed regarding adjustments to pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22576/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

Pending completion of the restructuring deals and consideration of the pensions issue generally I am not in a position at this stage to set out the effects of such deals on the pensions of all former members of the Garda Síochána or the Prison Service.

Restructuring deals have still to be finalised in respect of several other major public service groups. Consideration is currently being given to the implications for existing pensioners of the existing and pending restructuring deals across the public sector and in relation to pensions increase policy generally.

In so far as the Garda Síochána is concerned, agreement was reached at the Garda conciliation council in March, 1994 which provided,inter alia, for the pensionability of unsocial hours allowances for members of the force of garda, sergeant and inspector rank who retired after 1 January, 1993. The agreement was reached under the terms of the local bargaining clause — clause 3 — of the agreement on pay and conditions which formed part of the Programme forfor Economic and Social Progress

A similar restructuring deal under the local bargaining clause — clause 2 (iii) — of theProgramme for Competitiveness and Work, which succeeded the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, has not yet been concluded in respect of the superintendent and chief superintendent ranks in the force. In this regard, the rank represented by the Association of Garda Superintendents has, under the terms of clause 2 (iv) of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, received a 1 per cent special pay increase effective from 1 April 1994 which will be fully offset against the final outcome of the restructuring deal. This 1 per cent increase has been applied to the pensions in respect of retired superintendents.

In so far as prison officers and other grades in the Prisons Service are concerned, restructuring discussions are still ongoing with the various staff representative associations.