asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that under the Pension (Abatement) Act, 1965, retired dental surgeons, who were previously employed by the health boards, are unable to do any subsequent work; and whether he will consider making amendments to this legislation to make available special arrangements for such persons, where they are required, in view of the poor state of the dental service.
Written Answers. - Retired Dental Surgeons.
174.
The relevant provisions of the Pensions (Abatement) Act, 1965, which are now embodied in the Local Government Superannuation Code, provide for the abatement of the pension of a former officer or employee of a local authority, health board or vocational education committee who becomes re-employed in a temporary capacity in any such authority. The code also includes provision for waiver by me of the abatement of pension provisions in specified circumstances. The relevant provisions of the code are article 60 of the Local Government (Superannuation Revision) (Consolidation) Scheme, 1986, and article 56 of the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1956 (Consolidation) Scheme, 1987. An application for such waiver would be a matter for the authority concerned in the first instance.