asked the Minister for Finance when the pension scheme for the temporary whole-time unestablished secretarial staffs of the political parties and the Independent Deputies in the Houses of the Oireachtas will be introduced; and the basic conditions therein.
Written Answers. - Political Parties' Staff Pension Scheme.
573.
A superannuation scheme for secretarial assistants to Deputies who are not office holders has been prepared by the Department of the Public Service. The basic conditions of this scheme, which will commence with effect from 14 November 1980 are similar to those applicable to non-established civil servants. It is a non-contributory scheme, providing for a pension after 40 years service which, together with the personal rate of social welfare pension would give an aggregate benefit equal to one-half times pay, together with a lump sum of one-and-a-half times pay.
The scheme also provides for a death gratuity on death-in-service and preservation of benefits where a person resigns voluntarily before retiring age. Service reckonable will include service funded out of the grant for secretarial assistance and service in a similar capacity given before the grant was introduced. However, before any benefits which may arise in current year can be paid under the scheme, it will first be necessary to introduce a Supplementary Estimate in order to secure the approval of Dáil Éireann for the additional expenditure involved.
The question of amending the scheme to cover the secretarial assistants to Senators is being considered.