Vol. 462 No. 8
198 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the widow of a person (details supplied) did not receive an ex gratia Garda pension in spite of the fact that he had been a member of the Garda Síochána for 42 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5440/96]
The ex-garda concerned retired on 27 October 1968 and died on 28 October, 1975. His widow died on 9 November 1992.
The Garda Síochána spouses and children's contributory pension scheme was introduced with effect from 23 July 1968 for members serving on or after that date. Under the terms of the scheme there was provision for the payment of ex gratia pensions but only in respect of members of the force who had retired or died before 23 July 1968, i.e., the effective date of the scheme.
The deceased member opted not to subscribe to the contributory scheme. On his death his widow qualified for what is referred to as an ordinary Garda widow's pension. She had no entitlement, at that date, to a pension under the contributory scheme and was not covered by its ex gratia provisions.
The latter scheme was subsequently revised in 1984 and at that stage serving and retired members or their widows were given an option to join the scheme with effect from 1 November 1984. The widow concerned exercised this option and elected to meet her contribution liability by means of deferred payment of her contributory pension until 7 June 1986, from which date until the date of her death she was in receipt of both pensions.
