To ask the Minister for Finance whether any arrangements have been made for the payment of pensions due to ex-officers of Local Authorities in Ireland whose scales of pension have been fixed by Sealed Orders under the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1919; whether he is aware that many of these ex-officers are owed their pensions for many months; whether it is not in accordance with Article 10 of the Treaty and Article 43 of the Constitution to have such ex-officers paid without undue delay, and if he will take steps to have the pensions paid in full and at an early date.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - EX-OFFICERS LOCAL AUTHORITIES (PAYMENT OF PENSIONS).
This question should have been addressed to the Minister for Local Government, to whom I have referred it for reply.
It is presumed that the question relates to pensions which were fixed by the Local Government Board under Section 8 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1919, in the cases of officials who had been dismissed during the war. Such pensions were in many cases excessive. The pensions of officials of local authorities are payable by the latter out of the rates. The local authorities generally repudiate liability in the cases referred to. The Government considers that where dismissal was due solely to differences of opinion between the local authorities and officials as to the interpretation of the duties of the latter some equitable claim remained for payment. Pending determination of the matter, and with the approval of the Minister of Finance, advances have been made by the Government in some cases after suitable investigation.
Will the Minister take into consideration the question of retired servants—servants who were not dismissed and whose pensions were settled by local authorities? Is he aware a number of those who voluntarily retired are only receiving small sums in advance of their pension?
I would not be inclined to take them into consideration.