Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
182. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when arrears of pension owing since 2021 will be paid to retired general operatives and supervisors that worked for the Office of Public Works; the reason for the delay in making these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45965/23]
View answerThere are outstanding arrears due to a small number of retired staff and staff who died in service in relation to a WRC settlement which was made in September 2022 regarding the Ganger & Excavator Driver Travel Time Allowance.
Active OPW members of staff were paid the arrears owed in February 2023. The process to pay the arrears to retired OPW staff and those who died in service is ongoing and it is hoped this will be completed in November 2023.
OPW does not have access to the bank account details of these retired staff to ensure they are correct as the Paymaster General in NSSO pays all OPW State Industrial pensions. NSSO have agreed to provide this information following permission received from the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. NSSO have indicated in mid-October that once final checks are complete, the bank account details are ready to send and once received OPW will process the payment of these arrears.
