John Cregan
Question:466 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the delay in paying outstanding benchmarking pension increases to the retired psychiatric nursing profession; and when same will be awarded. [25212/03]
Written Answers. - Benchmarking Awards.
I have made inquiries with the chief executive officers of each of the health boards-authorities and they have provided the following information in respect of their individual areas: the Eastern Regional Health Authority has informed me that the pension increases due to the retired psychiatric nursing profession under the first phase of the public service benchmarking body report have been paid in the eastern region; the Midland Health Board has indicated that the new rates and arrears were paid to pensioners in early October 2003; the Mid-Western Health Board paid the new rates and the arrears to all the of its pensioners in July 2003; outstanding benchmarking pension increases to the retired psychiatric nursing profession in the North Eastern Health Board were paid in October 2003; all of the retired psychiatric nursing professionals in the North Western Health Board area received their benchmarking awards during the months of July and August 2003; the South Eastern Health Board has confirmed that retired psychiatric nurses have all received payment of the first 25% of the public service benchmarking body's award and that these payments were made between mid-July and early October 2003; the benchmarking pay award was paid to retired psychiatric nurses in the Southern Health Board in August 2003; and the Western Health Board paid the benchmarking award – including arrears – to all of its pensioners in July 2003.