asked the Minister for Finance how many State boards have submitted proposed pension schemes for his approval, which have not yet been approved; how long each such scheme has been awaiting approval; and if he will give the date on which each proposed scheme was first received in his Department.

There is only one proposed pension scheme for a State board under consideration in my Department at present. I should say that these schemes are submitted in the first instance to the Departments responsible for the boards and the scheme referred to above was forwarded officially to my Department in May, 1964, by the appropriate Department. A number of proposals preliminary to the making of schemes have also been dealt with by my Department, and further action in these cases rests either with the boards or the appropriate Departments.

19.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of State boards how many have (a) contributory and (b) non-contributory pension schemes in operation for their employees; and how many State Boards have not, as yet, provided pension schemes for their employees.

I am concerned only with State boards in respect of whose pension arrangements I have statutory functions. If the Deputy will be good enough to repeat his question in so far as it refers to these boards, in a fortnight's time, I hope to be in a position to supply him with the appropriate information.

20.

asked the Minister for Finance how many State boards are obliged to have his approval for the introduction of a pension scheme; and how many such boards are not receiving any contribution towards the cost of the scheme from the Exchequer.

The information requested by the Deputy will take some time to compile and perhaps he would repeat his question in a fortnight's time.