asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that many auxiliary postmen on their retirement after a lifetime of service are often without any adequate means of maintenance; that they have reached the age when they cannot engage in new forms of economic activity, and that, in consequence, they are exposed to great hardship in their old age; and, if so, he will state if he is prepared to introduce proposals at an early date for the provision of pensions to satisfy the reasonable claims of these men.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pensions for Auxiliary Postmen.
Only established officers, that is, permanent full-time civil servants, are pensionable under the Superannuation Acts. An unestablished full-time officer retiring by reason of infirmity may, if he has had not less than 15 years' full-time service, be granted a gratuity. Auxiliary postmen, being part-time officers, are not entitled to either pension or gratuity, but grants may be made from a special fund where there are necessitous circumstances. It must be borne in mind that the Superannuation Acts apply to the Civil Service as a whole.