asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will arrange to have the pensions of State pensioners adjusted three times annually so that they may benefit at the earliest opportunity from increases in wages and salaries granted to serving members of the public service.

Representations made for this adjustment in the arrangements governing State pensions were carefully and sympathetically considered in connection with the recent budget but having regard to the many competing demands on the Exchequer at the present time it was not found possible to earmark the substantial additional funds required to implement it on this occasion.