asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to give his consent to CIE to introduce a pension scheme for manual workers which is equitable and comparable to that for salaried non-manual workers.
777.
Written Answers. - CIE Pension Schemes.
775.
asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to implement a pension scheme for all CIE employees in line with pensions to employees in other public sector companies; whether he accepts that employees' contributions to such a pension scheme should not exceed 6 per cent of income; if he will make funds available for this scheme over and above the subvention to CIE; and if he will ensure that those former employees of CIE now on the existing CIE pension will benefit from the new scheme.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 775 and 777 together.
For pension purposes there are two categories of employees in CIE namely the salaried officers and clerks and the regular wages staff. The superannuation provisions for the salaried officers and clerks are in line with those in operation in the public sector generally. The regular wages staff, pending the introduction of a similar type scheme to cover them, have been covered by interim schemes designed to give pensions which when combined with social welfare benefits would equate to about two-thirds of retiring pay.
Negotiations are in progress between CIE and the unions for the drawing up, in respect of the regular wages staff of CIE, of a definitive scheme on similar lines to those in operation in the public sector generally. The questions of the level of contribution and provision within the draft scheme for retired members of the existing scheme are being covered in these negotiations.
I re-affirm my commitment to approval of a definitive scheme within public sector norms, at the earliest possible opportunity subject to prevailing financial structures.