asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider allowing minor officers of the State and local authorities who are debarred from stamping an insurance card for contributory old age pension to stamp such a card in the same way as applies to widows' and orphans' insurance.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Insurance Card Stamping.
47.
The only minor officers of the State and local authorities who are not compulsorily insured for old age (contributory) pensions are those who are employed by the State in a pensionable capacity and those who are employed by local authorities in a permanent and pensionable capacity with terms and conditions of employment providing for payment during illness on a basis which I consider adequate. When the Old Age (Contributory) Pensions Scheme was introduced it was decided that persons in the employments referred to should be excluded from the scope of the scheme. Accordingly, these persons continue to be insurable only for widows' and orphans' pensions and for occupational injuries benefit since the introduction of that scheme.
I do not consider that any change in the position is warranted.
Does the Minister not consider it a bit ironic that minor officers in local authorities, who pay a considerable amount in respect of pension rights, when they come to retire receive less in pension, and in fact are very much worse off, than if they had not such pension right and instead were paid social welfare benefits?
That could be examined if that is the position.
Perhaps the Minister would have a look at it.
Yes. The question of whether it should be dealt with under their own pension scheme or under the Social Welfare Acts would have to be decided.
The Minister must be aware that other servants of the local authorities who stamp cards and who have a pension scheme come out much better off than the so-called minor officers.
I will look into it at any rate.