asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 who was denied an ex-gratia benefit because he was 33 days short of having served seven years as a maintenance man in St. Anne's Hospital, Northbrook Road, Dublin 6, as he had to leave employment because of arthritis in his hands; and the lump-sum that would have been payable to him if he had served the extra 33 days.
Written Answers. - Ex-Gratia Benefit.
322.
The person referred to in the question was employed on the maintenance staff of St. Anne's Hospital, Northbrook Road, Dublin 6, from 18 February 1977 to 7 October 1983 — a total period of six years 232 days. He did not qualify for any benefit under the informal ex-gratia retirement arrangements for non-officer staff of voluntary hospitals as he did not have the requisite ten years service to qualify for pension or seven years service to qualify for gratuity. It would not be possible to vary the conditions for qualifying for these benefits in individual cases.
The person concerned was already of pensionable age when he commenced employment with St. Anne's Hospital and is in receipt of a contributory old age pension including dependent allowance.