asked the Minister for Health if his Department had discussions with the Irish Nurses' Organisation with a view to implementing a superannuation scheme for its members in voluntary hospitals; if he intends to facilitate the Irish Nurses' Organisation by introducing such a scheme; and if he is aware of the continuing injustice whereby nurses moving from voluntary hospitals to local authority hospitals lose pension benefits in respect of their voluntary hospital service and must begin at the minimum salary scale.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Superannuation Scheme for Nurses.
24.
The question of the introduction of a superannuation scheme for nursing staffs of voluntary hospitals has been examined by a Committee, appointed for that purpose by my predecessor, which reported to me very recently. The Committee received submissions from, and had discussions with, interested parties, including the Irish Nurses' Organisation. The report includes references to the preservation of pension rights of members of staffs who transfer between local authorities and voluntary hospitals. I am examining the report and I hope that it will be possible to introduce a suitable scheme.
The standard practice is that a person who takes up an appointment for the first time in the health authority service commences at the minimum of the appropriate salary scale.