96 Mr. Reynolds asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford who had to retire as chief nursing officer with the health board due to an accident en route to work, has only received the equivalent of five years salary, when there is discretion to grant up to ten years salary having regard to the particular circumstances. [3288/97]

Limerick East): The South-Eastern Health Board, from which board the individual in question retired on grounds of permanent infirmity on 1 October 1995, has advised that the benefits payable were calculated in accordance with the terms of the local government superannuation scheme. The scheme provides that where retirement is on the grounds of permanent infirmity, an additional period of notional service may be added to actual service for benefit calculation purposes. The amount of notional service which may be added is dependent on the person's age and actual service. In line with the provisions of the scheme, a total of 5.663 years was added to the individual's actual service.

In awarding benefits in this case, the board advised the individual that in the event of his feeling aggrieved by the amount of the award, he could appeal the matter to the Minister for the Environment who has statutory responsibility for the scheme.