asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the following officials of the Thurles Union, viz.:—Master, matron, carpenter, two nurses, teacher, cook, and ambulance driver, with periods of service ranging from 11 years to 31½ years, and whose offices were abolished following the adoption of county schemes, were granted the superannuation provided for under Section 8 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1919, and by Section 11 of the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1923, by the local authority concerned, and in respect of which sanction was refused by his Department, and if he will state the reason why sanction was refused, and whether sanction will now be given.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Superannuation of Thurles Union Officials.
The amounts proposed by the local authority in these cases exceeded the scale provided by the Superannuation Acts, 1834 to 1892, and the rules thereunder. They, therefore, required the consent of the Minister under Section 11 (5) of the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1923.
The Minister did not consent to the full amounts awarded by the local authority, but fixed amounts which, in his opinion, met the merits of the cases. The amounts fixed were substantially more than the minimum, and in fixing them the principle observed in all similar cases was followed. The decisions cannot be reconsidered.
Does this come under the Wigg-Cochrane case?
No.