Willie Penrose
Question:97 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18160/03]
Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.
My Department raised the matter with the Midland Health Board and I have been advised that the individual concerned retired from the position of staff nurse on 3 June 1999, and his gratuity and pension were inclusive of the long service increment appropriate to the staff nurse salary scale. The individual concerned appears to be claiming entitlement to payment of gratuity and pension applicable to the senior staff nurse grade.
The senior staff nurse grade was introduced with effect from 5 November 1999, as part of the settlement of the nurses' strike of that year, five months after the individual concerned retired. As this person never held the grade of senior staff nurse, it is not possible to calculate his gratuity and pension payments based on the senior staff nurse salary scale. This position has been advised by the Department of Finance, which has overall responsibility for public service pensions policy.