Vol. 475 No. 4
231 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice the proposals, if any, she has to rectify the anomaly whereby gardaí with a similar length of service receive different rates of superannuation depending on when they retire; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4882/97]
The question refers to changes made to the basis for calculating Garda pensions in 1982 and 1994, which came into effect from the date the change was made but which did not have retrospective effect to include pensioners.
The first, the pensionability of certain Garda allowances in 1982 arose out of a finding by the arbitrator that a number of Garda allowances, which has previously been non-pensionable, became reckonable for pension purposes with effect from 1 October 1982. This was accepted by the then Minister for the Public Service and by the then Minister for Justice. Garda pensioners who retired before that date did not benefit from the changes recommended by the arbitrator.
The second change made to the basis for calculating Garda pensions, the decision in 1994 to make unsocial hours allowances pensionable, was part of a restructuring agreement reached under the local bargaining clause of the PESP, and was in return for agreement by Garda associations to contribute to flexibility and change within the force. The agreement was subject to an overall limit on cost of 3 per cent of basic pay. It did not provide for the extension of pensionability of unsocial hours to Garda pensioners who retired before 1 January 1993.
In relation to the 1994 restructuring agreement, I should say that restructuring deals have still to be finalised in respect of several other major public service groups and that 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.
Concerning the Garda pension scheme generally, the Deputy will be aware that in February 1996 my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Quinn, established the Commission on Public Service Pensions to examine and report on the pension terms of public servants, including members of the Garda Síochána. The Commission has been asked to report to Government in 1998.
