§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELLTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, where county 1373 councils in Ireland made new permanent appointments such as clerks in the county surveyor's and county secretary's offices under Section 83 (6) of the Local Government Act of 1898, such officers become entitled to superannuation after certain service; and, if so, will he state the minimum period they are rehired to serve before they become pensionable officers; and whether such officers can be dismissed at any time during their service by county councils without assigning any cause and without the sanction of the Local Government Board.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Section 83 (11) applies the provisions of the Union Officers' Superannuation Acts to officers of county councils (other than the county surveyor). Under these enactments a county council may, with the consent of the Local Government Board, grant a pension not exceeding two-thirds of his salary and emoluments to a clerk n the county surveyor's or in the secretary's office on his ceasing to hold office, provided (a) he has devoted his whole time to the service of the county, and (b) that he becomes incapacitated for service on the ground of old age or permanent infirmity of mind or body. An officer can only be pensioned on ground of old age if he has attained the age of sixty years, and has served as a county officer for twenty years at the least. The clerks referred to are not entitled as of right to receive pensions, and they can be appointed and removed without the sanction of the Local Government Board.