Vol. 407 No. 1
232 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment the number of health board and local authority officers who are included in widows and orphans superannuation schemes; the cost of giving such cover to officers not currently included in such schemes; if he will give details of the benefits to persons who have such cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The number of officers estimated to be covered by the widows' and orphans'/spouses' and children's pension schemes is 19,200. This figure represents officer grades employed by health boards, local authorities and vocational education committees.
The schemes apply to all pensionable officers, except those who opted not to join.
The information required to estimate the cost of covering officers who so opted is not available in my Department.
Details of the benefits payable under the schemes are set out in the Local Government Officers (Widows and Orphans Contributory Pension) Scheme, 1984 (S.I. No. 321 of 1984) and the Local Government Officers (Spouses and Childrens Contributory Pension) Scheme, 1986 (S.I. No. 364 of 1986).
