Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 5

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Michael Ring

Question:

344 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will examine the anomaly regarding widows-widowers who are receiving a pension from his Department which includes payment for their children in full-time education, considering that other Departments, including Health and Children and Education and Science, include payment for children in full-time education up to the age of 22, while his Department ceases payment for children in full-time education at 21 years of age; and the reason for this. [18864/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

My Department pays pensions to former members of the Garda Síochána and to spouses and children of deceased members of the Garda Síochána. All other pensions are paid by the pay master general's office under the aegis of the Department of Finance. General Council Report No. 1324, relating to the Civil Service spouses' and children's pension scheme, which was adopted on 18 December 1997 provides for the payment in respect of children up to age 22 where they are in full-time education or training.

As regards An Garda Síochána, the position is that a claim to increase the age to which allow ances are paid under the Garda Síochána pensions orders, by extending the terms of General Council Report No. 1324 to members of An Garda Síochána, was conceded by the official side at the Garda conciliation council in June 2001. An agreed report, to be concluded in the near future, will provide for the payment of children's allowance up to age 22, where the children of ex-members of An Garda Síochána are undergoing full-time education or training.