Vol. 474 No. 5
40 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Finance if he will revert payment of a pension to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny to a monthly payment in view of the fact that payment made fortnightly is less than the amount paid by the month. [3374/97]
The basic rate of pension has not been changed, but the frequency of payment has been changed from monthly to fortnightly.
Civil Service pensions were paid monthly until September 1996. From 1 October 1996, payment was changed to a fortnightly basis, with the first such payment being made on 17 October 1996. This was agreed following representations made by the Retired Civil and Public Servants Association. Notification of the changeover was included with all pensions issued on the 17 October, 1996.
Payment is now made on alternate Thursdays, as is the case for similar salary payments throughout the Civil Service. For precise calculation of the fortnightly pension the annual amount is divided by 26.09. On this basis this person's current pension rate is correct.
It is not feasible to have optional arrangements for individuals in relation to the frequency of payment of pensions. The payroll system operates on a group basis and all pensioners in a particular group are tied to a common frequency of payment. There are seven groups within the system, covering 15,000 pensioners.
