asked the Minister for Lands when the pension scheme for retired unestablished employees of his Department was agreed; if all eligible former employees of the Land Commission and of the forestry and wildlife section resident in Counties Meath and Kildare are currently in receipt of weekly payments under this scheme; and when such payments commenced or will commence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Departmental Pension Scheme.
81.
The administrative details of the pension scheme for non-established State employees, including forest and Land Commission workers, were settled in November last. The pensions of eligible employees of my Department including those in Counties Kildare and Meath are in the process of assessment at present and it is anticipated that payment will commence shortly. Payment of pension will be retrospective to each man's retiral date.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary state why there has been this delay?
The Deputy will appreciate that there have been consultations with the union and the interests involved. As I have stated, payment of pension will be retrospective to each man's retiral date.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that it was easy to determine a long time ago the people who would be covered by this scheme in County Meath? The cheques could have been ready in November and sent out immediately. The consultations to which the Parliamentary Secretary has referred did not relate to the forestry and wildlife service and there should not have been any difficulty in sending out the money in November.
The Deputy will appreciate that discovering the people entitled to payment was only one part of the administrative details that were involved.