asked the Minister for the Public Service (a) the number of widows of deceased civil servants who were in receipt of State pensions on 23 July 1968, and on the same date in each succeeding year up to and including 1977; (b) the number of women who became eligible for pensions based on the pre-1968 service of their husbands in each of the years 1968-1977; (c) the number of widows whose pensions were based on their husbands pre-1968 service who died in each of the years 1968-1977; and (d) when the present group of such widows, and any other women who may subsequently become entitled to a pension on the basis of their husbands' pre-1968 service will become entitled to full parity with the widows of public servants, whose service extended beyond 23 July 1968.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Widow's Pensions .
: The information sought by the Deputy is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
a) Number of widows of deceased civil servants who were in receipt of state pensions on 23 July 1968 and on the same date in each succeeding year up to and including 1977—
|
23 July 1968 |
Nil |
|
23 July 1969 |
Nil |
|
23 July 1970 |
1,837 |
|
23 July 1971 |
2,103 |
|
23 July 1972 |
2,184 |
|
23 July 1973 |
2,220 |
|
23 July 1974 |
2,228 |
|
23 July 1975 |
2,251 |
|
23 July 1976 |
2,221 |
|
23 July 1977 |
2,212 |
(b) Number of women who became eligible for pensions based on the pre-1968 service of their husbands in each of the years 1968-77
|
Year ending 23 July 1969 |
Nil |
|
Year ending 23 July 1970 |
1,885 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1971 |
316 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1972 |
150 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1973 |
139 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1974 |
112 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1975 |
112 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1976 |
78 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1977 |
80 |
(c) Number of widows whose pensions were based on their husbands' pre-1968 service who died in each of the years 1968-77
|
Year ending 23 July 1969 |
Nil |
|
Year ending 23 July 1970 |
48 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1971 |
50 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1972 |
69 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1973 |
103 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1974 |
104 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1975 |
89 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1976 |
108 |
|
Year ending 23 July 1977 |
89 |
(d) When will the present group of such widows and any other women who may subsequently become entitled to a pension on the basis of their husbands' pre-1968 service become entitled to full parity with the widows of public servants, whose service extended beyond 23 July 1968.
The cost of increasing the ex gratia rate of pension to the full contributory rate would be about £3,300,000 a year for the public service as a whole. The question of a concession was considered in the context of the budget but it was decided that an increase could not be granted in present circumstances. The matter will be reviewed again as sympathetically as possible when next year's budget is being prepared.
: There is part of the question which does not readily fall into a tabular reply. It is that part which reads:
When the present group.... and any other women who may subsequently become entitled to a pension ...will become entitled to full parity with the widows of public servants whose service extended beyond 23 July 1968.
Surely the Minister can give that information.
: Yes, I can. The portion of the reply dealing with that is that the cost of increasing the ex gratia rate of pension to full contributory pension rate would be about £3.3 million a year for the public service as a whole. The question of that concession was considered in the context of the budget but it was decided the increase could not be granted in present circumstances. The matter will be reviewed again as sympathetically as possible when next year's budget is being prepared.
: Is the Minister saying he is making no commitment at all in regard to progress towards removing this last anomaly?
: I am simply saying what I have just read out for the Deputy's benefit.