asked the Minister for Health the present position in relation to the application of existing superannuated hospital consultants to have their pensions related to the salary structures of the recently concluded common contract for hospital consultants.
Written Answers. - Hospital Consultants' Pensions.
306.
The superannuation of local authority employees including health board personnel is governed by legislation, that is the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1956 and, where applicable the Superannuation Revision Scheme, 1977. The Minister for the Environment is the appropriate Minister.
Pension increases are granted annually in line with salary increases granted to a pensioner's former grade. However, where such increase is payable solely on the grounds of re-grading, re-structuring or alteration in duties or conditions of service that did not apply to the pensioner before the date of his retirement the increased salary for the grade is not reflected in his pension. In this connection the question as to whether the common contract salary structures should be applied to the pensions of hospital consultants superannuated before the introduction of the common contract is being examined by the Department of Health and the Environment. This examination has not yet been completed.