asked the Minister for Defence the action, if any, he proposes to take to bring the pensions paid to NCOs and men into line with pensions throughout the public service.

10.

asked the Minister for Defence if he proposes to take any action to bring the pensions paid to NCOs and men into line with those paid generally throughout the public service.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.

The Defence Forces pensions schemes are a distinct superannuation code related to the special needs and conditions of the service. A noncommissioned officer or private is entitled to pension after 21 years' service and to maximum pension after 31 years' service, irrespective of rank. Maximum pension represents between about 47 per cent and 53 per cent of pay, depending on rank.

In the public service generally pensions are not ordinarily awarded before the age of 60, and 40 years' service is required to qualify for the maximum pension which is 50 per cent of pay.

The Defence Forces pensions schemes are kept under constant review in the light particularly of developments in pensions codes applicable elsewhere in the public service.

Does the Minister agree that the qualifications and so on for pensions in the Army do not compare favourably with those in the public service? Surely our defence personnel are entitled to equal concessions with the Public Service.

From my examination of the matter I believe that soldiers are probably better off under the pension scheme they have than they would be under the Public Service scheme.

This opinion is not shared by some of the personnel in the Army.

It is a fact but if the Deputy would give me an individual case where somebody feels aggrieved I will certainly look at it.

I do not know of an individual case. This is the general feeling.

Is a gratuity paid in addition to the pension after the 31 years' service to which the Minister referred?

Yes.