Vol. 417 No. 1
336 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of employees in semi-State companies who pay into pension funds, whose benefit is capped at a rate equivalent to the old age contributory pension; and if he will make a statement on the way in which their contributions into pension and social insurance funds compare with ordinary class workers.
The information requested by the Deputy is not available to my Department.
The conditions of entitlement to pension in a semi-State company pension scheme is a matter for the direct concern of the relevant Minister and I have no function in relation to the level of benefits provided under such schemes. As Minister for Social Welfare, I have direct responsibility for two State bodies, namely the Combat Poverty Agency and the Pensions Board. Superannuation arrangements for the employees of these organisations are currently being developed.
Permanent and pensionable employees of a public authority are insured under the PRSI system (class D) for a limited range of benefits (i.e. widows and orphan's pensions and deserted wife's benefit). A number of semi-State companies have the status of public authority and their employees are insured in this way. Employees of semi-State companies which are not public authorities are liable to pay the Class A rate of contribution which provides cover for the full range of social insurance benefits including pensions.
