Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Jul 1998

Vol. 493 No. 5

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

226 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason benefits were not extended to retired prison officers when rent allowances were made pensionable; the way in which this complies with the Department of Finance circular of 4 November 1997 agreeing to pension parity in the public service; if this circular is being adhered to in his regard; the way in which the cut-off date was arrived at; with whom was it agreed; if it was relevant to rent allowances or if it was the date taken from other restructuring deals with gardaí and teachers; if full parity can now be implemented; the mechanism, if any, that exists for pensioners to pursue disputed decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16798/98]

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

227 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform with reference to the case of retired prison officers, the reason the restructuring clause did not apply to allowances; the number of retired people that have not received full parity as outlined in the Government policy statement of 4 November 1997; if the Government policy document is being fully adhered to; and the reason pensionability of rent allowance for prison officers was not backdated to the same date as pensionability was given to gardaí in this regard. [16800/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, clause 2 (iii) of the PCW provided that claims for improvements in pay and conditions be addressed on a basis which would involve change in structures, work practices or other conditions of service. Negotiations took place with the Prison Officers' Association under this clause and agreement on a package of measures was reached. One of the issues which was agreed with the association was that rent allowance will be pensionable to members of the prison service serving on or after 1 January 1994. 1t was also agreed with the association that rent allowance will be reckonable for the purpose of calculating lump sums or death gratuity in the case of members who retired or died in service in the period 1 January 1993 to 31 December 1993. In such cases pension will only be adjusted to take account of rent allowance with effect from 1 January 1994.

Making rent allowance pensionable has cost implications. Clause 2 (iii) of the PCW put a ceiling on the overall cost of agreements. A cut off date for the pensionability of rent allowance had, therefore, to be agreed upon. The dates outlined above were agreed with the association.

It is established practice that allowances, where they are made pensionable for the first time, are made pensionable only for employees serving on or after the effective date. This has been consistent policy for all public service groups.