Vol. 409 No. 10
96 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Defence if he will take steps to equalise retirement provisions for people, who worked as employees of catering boards in Army installations to those employed on similar duties directly by the Defence Forces; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many people who spent a lifetime in employment of catering boards have retired with very small gratuities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Defence Forces canteen board make arrangements independently of my Department for the recruitment and conditions of service of civilian personnel employed by the board. The board do not have a pension scheme for such personnel but they are eligible on retirement for the normal social welfare benefits. In addition, the board have arrangements for payment of a retirement gratuity to employees who have had at least five years' service. The gratuity, which is based on length of service and annual pay on retirement, is subject to a maximum of one and a half years' pay.
