Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2007
618 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce a gratuity scheme for retiring councillors similar to the 1999 scheme for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25368/07]
View answerFollowing a review of financial supports available to councillors, a range of improvements was introduced with effect from 1 January, 2007. These improvements resulted from a careful and detailed review of the expenses allowances system and the retirement gratuity scheme for councillors and involved extensive consultation with the elected members' associations. The amendments to the gratuity scheme provided for:
an increase in the maximum retirement gratuity from three times to four times the rate of the Representational Payment after twenty years of service,
a minimum death in service benefit of one year of the prevailing rate of Representational Payment, and
an ex-gratia payment of 75% of the appropriate annual rate paid under the provisions of the first ever retirement gratuity scheme for serving councillors in 1999 for service pre May 2000.
As a result, councillors retiring at the 2009 local elections will have the benefit of these significant improvements to their retirement gratuity scheme.
