Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 1

Written Answers - Pension Provisions.

Nora Owen

Question:

296 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in relation to the recent pay settlement and allowances for the nursing profession, he will outline the allowances which are passed on to retired nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11587/01]

Brian O'Shea

Question:

301 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals he has to address the concerns of the Retired Nurses Association of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11611/01]

Michael Ring

Question:

321 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason members of the Retired Nurses Association of Ireland will be excluded from future pay increases; and if they can be included. [11780/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 296, 301 and 321 together.

With reference to Deputy Owen's question, pensionable allowances are taken into account at retirement where (a) actual moneys have been paid, and (b) contributions in respect of such payments have been made to the superannuation scheme.

I am aware of concerns expressed by the Retired Nurses Association of Ireland concerning the report of the Commission on Public Service Pensions and the 1999 nurses pay agreement. The Government intends to make formal decisions on the recommendations of the Commission on Public Service Pensions following detailed consideration of the report which was published on 31 January 2001.

With regard to the 1999 nurses pay settlement, the standard parity criteria whereby retired nurses benefit from adjustments made to the salaries applicable to the grades in which they served before their retirement continue to apply. The retired nurses association's concerns relate specifically to the senior staff nurse post, and to red-circled allowances payable to deputy nursing officers, theatre/night sisters and public health nurses.

The senior staff nurse is a new post created as part of the 1999 settlement. Staff appointed to these posts will benefit from the rate for the post on retirement. The senior staff nurse rate does not however apply to pensioners who retired prior to 5 November 1999.

With regard to the red-circled allowances referred to above, these allowances only apply to nurses who were in employment on the effective date, 16 November 1999. As pensionable allowances are only taken into account at retirement where (a) actual moneys have been paid, and (b) contribution in respect of such payments have been made to the superannuation scheme, it follows that these allowances cannot be applied to pensioners who retired before the effective date.

These issues have been raised by the Nursing Alliance and discussions have taken place under the auspices of the Health Service Employers Agency. In this context, my Department has confirmed with the Department of Finance that the approach being taken is consistent with public service pensions increase policy. Officials of my Department are meeting with the retired nurses association next week to discuss the issues which are of concern to them.