Gay Mitchell
Ceist:54 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the role of the Paymaster General. [11491/01]
Written Answers. - Ministerial Responsibilities.
There is no actual post of Paymaster General, PMG, but the functions of the PMG are assigned to the Minister for Finance and the PMG's office is part of the Department of Finance.
The Paymaster General's office carries out two principal functions: it acts as a clearing bank for Government payments and it pays the pensions of retired civil servants. While there are a number of linkages between the two areas, they are in effect distinct and separate entities.
The banking side of the PMG's operates as the bank for all the Votes, except that of the Office of Public Works, and in respect of various other funds. It interacts between the clearing banks and the Departments, settling the banks' claims for the payable orders lodged with or encashed by them, and checking those claims against payment authorisations received from Departments.
The PMG pensions section is responsible for the payment of superannuation benefits to retired civil servants or to their spouses and children. It also pays such benefits to retired members of the Judiciary, and to former holders of ministerial and other offices. There are approximately 14,700 pensioners on the pensions payroll.
Question No. 55 answered with Question No. 33.