Gerry Reynolds
Question:178 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Finance if he proposes to give parity of esteem to psychiatric nurses with all other nursing bodies concerning their pensions. [6343/02]
Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.
It is not clear from the question whether the Deputy is referring to serving staff or to pensioners. As regards the former, I would point out that the majority of psychiatric nurses have more favourable pension terms than apply to nurses generally. As regards pensioners, I am not aware of any inequality of treatment in relation to psychiatric nurse pensioners compared to nurse pensioners generally.
The recommendations of the commission on public service pensions in relation to public service pension arrangements may be relevant to the question. As the Deputy may be aware, the Government announced in September 2001 that it had decided to accept the thrust of the package of reforms recommended by the commission. A working group of the public service unions and relevant Government Departments has recently been established under the terms of the PPF to advise on implementation of these recommendations and is to report within six months. My Department is finalising arrangements for the involvement of pensioners in the working group process and a preliminary meeting was held with pensioner group representatives, in this connection, on 11 December 2001.