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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Bus pension increase delay

Summary

Deputy Ó Laoghaire pressed for long-delayed pension increases for former Bus Éireann and CIÉ workers. The Tánaiste said he would check with the relevant Ministers urgently, and added an update that progress at St. Patrick's School had been constructive.

The Tánaiste will be aware that pensioners who worked in Bus Éireann and CIÉ have been waiting for over 18 years for an increase at a time of cost-of-living increases. Many of them are under severe pressure. They have been told numerous things, that a pension increase has been agreed between the unions and the company and is awaiting sign-off of a statutory instrument, and that it is with the Department of public expenditure or the Minister for Transport. Ultimately, this has been agreed. It is meant to have been signed off. They are anxious to see it agreed in the next month or two because the pensioners, the former CIÉ staff, are under pressure. This included an increase to the lump sum people received and, therefore, people who are retiring in the next month or two could lose out on that if this is not signed off. Will the Tánaiste tell us where this is at? The increase has been agreed. When will the statutory instrument be put in place?

Comment on this
Simon Harris The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I am going to check that for the Deputy today with the Minister for Transport and the Minister for public expenditure and reform because everyone is eager to bring this to a conclusion. The Deputy's point about being able to provide clarity to people is reasonable, so I will ask the Ministers to come back to the Deputy urgently on that matter and try to provide clarity for those workers.

Considering St. Patrick's school has been brought up a couple of times in the House today, I will add that I have just received an update that the meeting with the Department was constructive and the board of management is now due to meet later this evening to discuss next steps, so I hope that can provide progress for St. Patrick's school in Kildare.

Comment on this