§ 17. Sir EDWARD CARSONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any scheme providing for a grant of pensions or gratuities to clerks employed by the Congested Districts Board, as directed under Section 52 (2) of the Irish Land Act of 1909, has been put in force; what is the position at present of such clerks in relation to pensions or gratuities; whether the said Section of the Act of Parliament has been allowed to remain in abeyance for ten years; and who is responsible for this default?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND (Mr. A. W. Samuels)Correspondence has proceeded for some time past in this matter between the Congested Districts Board, the Irish Government, and the 312 Treasury. The Treasury have stipulated that full provision must be made in a pension scheme for the Board's staff under the Section of the Act referred to for meeting out of the Board's annual income during their continuance prospective pension charges which would accrue under the scheme. The Congested Districts Board, on the other hand, are seeking Treasury agreement to a scheme which would not throw the whole pension burden on their annual income. The Congested Districts Board are anxious for a speedy settlement and it is hoped that the question will be brought to issue very shortly.
§ Sir E. CARSONIs it not a fact that, by reason of disputes between the Treasury and the Congested Districts Board, ten years have elapsed without setting up this compensation authority?
§ Mr. SAMUELSI am not in a position to state that that has been the reason, but I hope that very soon it will be settled.
§ Sir E. CARSONMeanwhile, are no pensions being given, although the Act of Parliament ten years ago provided that they were to be given?