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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 3

Written Answers - Pension Provisions.

Noel Ahern

Question:

121 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance, further to his statement of November 1997 in relation to parity for retired public servants, the number of cases of non-compliance with his circular which have been brought to his attention; if these can be listed; and the action, if any, he is taking to have his circular fully implemented. [25132/98]

As the Deputy is aware, my Department is directly responsible for civil service pensioners. The position regarding civil service pensioners is that all received an advance payment of 2 per cent or 3 per cent in 1997 or earlier this year. About 85 per cent have now received their full entitlement based on the application of parity or the floor amount; outstanding cases are being examined.

Following the Government decision in November 1997, my Department issued comprehensive guidelines for dealing with cases. Initially, there were some difficulties in some areas in interpreting how these guidelines should be applied to certain groups of pensioners, particularly in local authority and health board areas. However, following consultations with my Department, these issues were resolved and, as far as I am aware, the decision of November 1997 is being fully complied with.
I would point out that some pensioners have disputed some of the guidelines. For example, some pensioners take the view that the 1997 decision meant that allowances being made pensionable for serving officers should also be passed on to pensioners who had already retired. The fact is, however, that it is a core element of pensions parity policy that, when an allowance is made pensionable for serving officers, the benefit does not apply to pensioners. The 1997 Government decision did not change this policy in any way; the decision was that parity would apply in respect of theProgramme for Competitiveness and Work restructuring deals, with the only change being to set a floor increase of 3 per cent.
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