Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956
Idir an dá linn
This law is about increasing certain pensions paid for public service. It sets out how these pensions will be increased and who is eligible for these increases.
Cad a rialaíonn sé
- The calculation of an "appropriate sum" for pension increases based on the pension amount.
- Increases for different categories of scheduled pensions (Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV).
- Increases for certain other pensions not explicitly scheduled.
- The commencement date for these increases.
Cé a mbaineann sé leis
- Recipients of pensions for public service, including those from local authorities, harbour authorities, and mental hospital authorities.
- Individuals whose pensions are listed in the Schedule of the Act or referred to in Section 7.
Príomhphointí
- Pensions are increased by an "appropriate sum" which varies based on the pension's annual amount:
* Up to £100 a year: 15% of the pension.
* Over £100 but not over £125 a year: £15 a year.
* Over £125 but not over £150 a year: 12% of the pension.
* Over £150 but not over £200 a year: £18 a year.
* Over £200 but not over £300 a year: 9% of the pension.
* Over £300 but not over £450 a year: £27 a year.
* Over £450 a year: 6% of the pension.
- Some scheduled pensions (Part I and Part II) are increased by the appropriate sum or the difference between the current pension and what would be payable for equivalent status and service if service ended on a "relevant day" (e.g., 1st November 1952, 1st April 1953, 1st January 1953), whichever is less.
- Pensions for service ending before 1st August 1956, but paid later, are treated as if they were paid on 1st August 1956, for the purpose of this Act.
- There are specific provisions for pensions affected by the "super-cut" arrangement, allowing for an increase by the difference if it's greater than the appropriate sum.
Legal text
Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.
- ie)Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.
- ie)Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(
- s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1956 Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956 Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 44 of 1956. PENSIONS (INCREASE) ACT, 1956. ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. Interpretation. 2. Appropriate sum. 3. Increase of scheduled (Part I) pension. 4. Increase of scheduled (Part II) pension. 5. Increase of scheduled (Part III) pension. 6. Increase of scheduled (Part IV) pension. 7. Increase of certain other pensions. 8. Commencement of increase. 9. Grant of certain increases. 10. Supplemental provisions. 11. General restriction. 12. Short title. SCHEDULE. Acts Referred to Harbours Act, 1946 No. 9 of 1946 Mental Treatment Act, 1945 No. 19 of 1945 Pensions (Increase) Act, 1950 No. 3 of 1950 Superannuation Act, 1947 No. 29 of 1947 Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1948 No. 4 of 1948 Social Welfare Act, 1952 No. 11 of 1952 Police Forces Amalgamation Act, 1925 No. 7 of 1925 Courts of Justice Act, 1924 No. 10 of 1924 Courts of Justice Act, 1936 No. 48 of 1936 Courts of Justice Act, 1947 No. 20 of 1947 Comptroller and Auditor-General Act, 1923 No. 1 of 1923 Comptroller and Auditor-General (Amendment) Act, 1944 No. 19 of 1944 Griffith Settlement Act, 1923 No. 5 of 1923 Executive Powers (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1937 No. 20 of 1937 Clerk of Seanad Éireann (Compensation) Act, 1939 No. 16 of 1939 Court Officers Act, 1945 No. 25 of 1945 Local Government Act, 1936 No. 46 of 1936 Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1950 ( S.I. No. 154 of 1950 ) Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1925 ( S.R. & O., No. 63 of 1925 ) Number 44 of 1956. PENSIONS (INCREASE) ACT, 1956. AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE INCREASE OF CERTAIN PENSIONS PAYABLE IN RESPECT OF PUBLIC SERVICE. [18th December, 1956.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:— Interpretation. 1.—
- a)a local authority for the purposes of the Local Government Acts, 1925 to 1955, (
- b)a vocational education committee, (
- c)a committee of agriculture, (
- d)a school attendance committee, (
- e)the Dublin Fever Hospital Board, (
- f)the former Cork Fever Hospital Board; “mental hospital authority” means a mental hospital authority within the meaning of the Mental Treatment Act, 1945 (No. 19 of 1945); “scheduled pension” means a pension or allowance specified in the Schedule to this Act and, where the expression comprises a reference to a particular Part of that Schedule, means a pension or allowance specified in that Part.
- a)where the amount of the pension does not exceed £100 a year, 15 per cent. of the amount of the pension, (
- b)where the amount of the pension exceeds £100 a year but does not exceed £125 a year, £15 a year, (
- c)where the amount of the pension exceeds £125 a year but does not exceed £150 a year, 12 per cent. of the amount of the pension, (
- d)where the amount of the pension exceeds £150 a year but does not exceed £200 a year, £18 a year, (
- e)where the amount of the pension exceeds £200 a year but does not exceed £300 a year, 9 per cent. of the amount of the pension, (
- f)where the amount of the pension exceeds £300 a year, but does not exceed £450 a year, £27 a year, (
- g)where the amount of the pension exceeds £450 a year, 6 per cent. of the amount of the pension.
- a)the amount of a pension which is paid partly out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas and partly out of moneys administered by another government shall not include any increase payable out of moneys administered by the other government, but the appropriate sum shall be reduced by the amount of any such increase except where that increase has been taken into account pursuant to paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- l)or (
- m)of Part I of the Schedule to this Act or which is in respect of service which ended before the 15th day of January, 1951, shall be increased by the appropriate sum.
- a)Any other scheduled (Part I) pension shall be increased by— (
- i)the appropriate sum, or (
- ii)the difference between the amount of the pension and the amount of such pension as would be payable to or in respect of a person of equivalent status and service whose service ended on the relevant day, whichever is the less. (
- b)For the purposes of subparagraph (
- ii)of paragraph (
- a)of this subsection, the amount of such pension as would be payable to or in respect of a person of equivalent status and service whose service ended on the relevant day shall, in relation to a scheduled (Part I) pension or part thereof calculated by reference to the average annual amount of salary or weekly pay received over a period of three years, be computed as if the rates of annual salary or weekly pay which first commenced to be paid on the relevant day had been in effect for the period of three years over which the average annual amount of salary or weekly pay would have been computed in the case of a person of equivalent status and service whose service ended on the relevant day.
- i)in relation to a scheduled (Part I) pension specified in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), (h), (i), (o), (
- p)or (
- q)of Part I of the Schedule to this Act—the 1st day of November, 1952, (
- ii)in relation to a scheduled (Part I) pension specified in paragraph (
- j)or (
- k)of Part I of the Schedule to this Act—the 1st day of April, 1953, and (iii) in relation to a scheduled (Part I) pension specified in paragraph (
- n)of Part I of the Schedule to this Act—the 1st day of January, 1953; any reference to salary shall be construed— (
- a)where the relevant scheduled (Part I) pension or part thereof is specified in paragraph (
- b)of Part I of the Schedule to this Act, as a reference to the scale salary, within the meaning of the National School Teachers' Superannuation Schemes, 1934 to 1954, and (
- b)where the relevant scheduled (Part I) pension or part thereof is specified in paragraph (
- c)of Part I of the Schedule to this Act, as a reference to the standard salary less any special increment, within the meaning of the Secondary Teachers' Superannuation Schemes, 1929 to 1956.
- a)a person is in receipt of a scheduled (Part I) pension in respect of service which ended before the 15th day of January, 1951, (
- b)the Minister for Finance considers that his salary was affected by the arrangement (commonly known as the super-cut) for the reduction of the cost-of-living bonus payable on former basic salaries in excess of £500 per annum, and (
- c)the difference between the scheduled (Part I) pension and the pension that would have been payable to him if that arrangement had not applied is greater than the appropriate sum, the scheduled (Part I) pension shall be increased by that difference instead of by the amount appropriate in accordance with subsection
- i)of paragraph (
- a)or in paragraph (
- b)or (
- c)of Part II of the Schedule to this Act shall be increased by the appropriate sum.
- a)A scheduled (Part II) pension specified in subparagraph (
- ii)of paragraph (
- a)of Part II of the Schedule to this Act which was granted in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of November, 1952, shall be increased by— (
- i)the appropriate sum, or (
- ii)the difference between the amount of the pension and the amount of such pension as would be payable in respect of a member of the Garda Síochána of equivalent status and service whose service ended on the 1st day of November, 1952, whichever is the less. (
- b)For the purposes of subparagraph (
- ii)of paragraph (
- a)of this subsection, the amount of such pension as would be payable in respect of a member of the Garda Síochána of equivalent status and service whose service ended on the 1st day of November, 1952, shall, in relation to a scheduled (Part II) pension or part thereof calculated by reference to the average annual amount of salary or weekly pay received over a period of three years, be computed as if the rates of annual salary or weekly pay which first commenced to be paid on the 1st day of November, 1952, had been in effect for the three years ending on that day.
- a)Where a scheduled (Part II) pension specified in subparagraph (
- ii)of paragraph (
- a)of Part II of the Schedule to this Act which was granted in respect of service which ended on or after the 1st day of November, 1952, is, as respects any period beginning on or after the 1st day of August, 1956, less than it would have been if it had been calculated under Scale (
- i)and had then been increased in acordance with subsection
- b)In paragraph (
- a)of this subsection “Scale (i)” means— (
- i)in relation to a widow's ordinary pension calculated under Scale (
- ii)of paragraph (
- a)in Part II of the First Schedule to the Dublin Metropolitan Police Pensions Order, 1922, or a widow's special pension calculated under rule 7 in that paragraph—Scale (
- i)in that paragraph as amended by the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1950 ( S.I. No. 154 of 1950 ), and (
- ii)in relation to a widow's ordinary pension calculated under Scale (
- ii)in paragraph A in Part II of the First Schedule to the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1925 ( S.R. & O., No. 63 of 1925 ), or a widow's special pension calculated under subparagraph 2 of that paragraph—Scale (
- i)in that Part as amended by the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1950.
- a)a person is in receipt of a scheduled (Part II) pension specified in subparagraph (
- ii)of paragraph (
- a)of Part II of the Schedule to this Act which was granted in respect of service which ended before the 15th day of January, 1951, (
- b)the Minister for Finance considers that the salary by reference to which the scheduled (Part II) pension was computed was affected by the arrangement (commonly known as the super-cut) for the reduction of the cost-of-living bonus payable on former basic salaries in excess of £500 per annum, and (
- c)the difference between the scheduled (Part II) pension and the pension that would have been payable if that arrangement had not applied is greater than the increase that would have been appropriate in accordance with subsection
- a)in relation to a local authority other than a mental hospital authority, the Minister for Local Government, and (
- b)in relation to a mental hospital authority, the Minister for Health.
- a)was granted in respect of service which ended on or after the 1st day of November, 1952, (
- b)was computed in whole or in part by reference to the average annual amount of salary or weekly rate of pay over a period which commenced before the 1st day of November, 1952, and ended before the 1st day of November, 1955, (
- c)would have been increased under section 3 of this Act if the service had ended before the 1st day of November, 1952, and (
- d)is not a pension to be increased under any provision of this Act, the pension shall be increased by— (
- i)one-twelfth of the appropriate sum in respect of every period of three months before the 1st day of November, 1952, included in the period referred to in paragraph (
- b)of this section, or (
- ii)the difference between the amount of the pension and the amount that would be payable if the pension were computed by reference to an annual average amount of salary or weekly pay determined as if the rate of annual salary or weekly pay which first commenced to be paid on the 1st day of November, 1952, had been in effect for the whole of the period referred to in paragraph (
- b)of this section, whichever is the less.
- a)where the relevant pension is a pension under the National School Teachers' Superannuation Schemes, 1934 to 1954, as a reference to the scale salary, within the meaning of those Schemes, and (
- b)where the relevant pension is a pension under the Secondary Teachers' Superannuation Schemes, 1929 to 1956, as a reference to the standard salary less any special increment, within the meaning of those Schemes. Commencement of increase. 8.—An increase under this Act shall, save as otherwise provided by this Act, have effect from (and inclusive
- of)the day of the commencement of the pension or the 1st day of August, 1956, whichever is the later. Grant of certain increases. 9.—
- a)in the case of a pension specified in paragraph (a), (
- b)or (
- c)in Part I of the Schedule to this Act, the Minister for Education, (
- b)in the case of a pension specified in paragraph (
- d)or (
- e)of Part I of the Schedule to this Act or in paragraph (
- a)of Part II of that Schedule, the Minister for Justice, (
- c)in the case of a scheduled (Part I) pension in respect of service which ended in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, and (
- d)in any other case, the Minister for Finance.
- f)of Part I of the Schedule to this Act and also another pension payable out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, subarticle (
- b)of Article 5 of the Royal Irish Constabulary (Resigned and Dismissed) Pensions Order, 1924 ( S.R. & O., No. 9 of 1924 ), shall have effect in relation to him with such modifications (if any) in his favour as the Minister for Finance considers proper.
- a)any compensation payable under Article 10 of the Treaty of 1921, (
- b)any allowance or payment not being a scheduled pension or a pension referred to in section 7 of this Act, or (
- c)any gratuity. Short title. 12.—This Act may be cited as the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1956. SCHEDULE. Scheduled Pensions. Section 1 . Part I. A pension or allowance which was in course of payment in whole or in part on the 1st day of August, 1956, and which was— (
- a)a pension granted under the National School Teachers (Ireland) Act, 1879 , (
- b)a pension granted under the National School Teachers' Superannuation Schemes, 1934 to 1954, in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of November, 1952, (
- c)a pension granted under the Secondary Teachers' Superannuation Schemes, 1929 to 1956, in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of November, 1952, (
- d)a pension or allowance granted under the Constabulary and Police (Ireland) Act, 1883 , as amended by the Constabulary and Police (Ireland) Act, 1908, the Constabulary and Police (Ireland) Act, 1914, the Constabulary and Police (Ireland) Act, 1916, the Constabulary and Police (Ireland) Act, 1918, and the Constabulary and Police (Ireland) Act, 1919 , in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of November, 1952, not being a pension granted under the Dublin Metropolitan Police Pensions Orders, 1922 and 1924, or those orders as varied by the Garda Síochána Pensions Orders, 1925 to 1955, to or in respect of a person who became a member of the amalgamated force under the Police Forces Amalgamation Act, 1925 (No. 7 of 1925), (
- e)a pension granted under the Garda Síochána Pensions Orders, 1925 to 1955, or the Dublin Metropolitan Police Pensions Orders, 1922 and 1924, or those orders as varied by the Garda Síochána Pensions Orders, 1925 to 1955, in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of November, 1952, not being a pension specified in the foregoing paragraph or a widow's pension or a child's allowance, (
- f)a pension granted under the Royal Irish Constabulary (Resigned and Dismissed) Pensions Orders, 1924, 1929, 1936 and 1949, not being a widow's pension, (
- g)an annual allowance granted under the Superannuation Acts, 1834 to 1954, in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of November, 1952, (
- h)an annual allowance granted under a warrant made under section 1 of the Superannuation Act, 1887 , in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of November, 1952, (
- i)a special annual allowance granted by way of compensation under section 7 of the Superannuation Act, 1859 , or section 6 of the Superannuation Act, 1909 , in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of November, 1952, (
- j)a pension granted under the Courts of Justice Act, 1924 (No. 10 of 1924), the Courts of Justice Act, 1936 (No. 48 of 1936), and the Courts of Justice Act, 1947 (No. 20 of 1947), in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of April, 1953, (
- k)a pension granted under the Comptroller and Auditor-General Act, 1923 (No. 1 of 1923), and the Comptroller and Auditor-General (Amendment) Act, 1944 (No. 19 of 1944), in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of April, 1953, (
- l)a pension granted under the Griffith Settlement Act, 1923 (No. 5 of 1923), (
- m)a pension granted under the Executive Powers (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1937 (No. 20 of 1937), (
- n)a pension granted in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of January, 1953, to a person who had been employed by the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland in relation to the care or conservancy of the navigation or the drainage of the River Shannon or any tributary thereof or of works constructed for the improvement of such navigation or drainage, (
- o)a pension granted by the former National Health Insurance Society to a person under the superannuation arrangements approved of by that Society, (
- p)a compensation allowance payable under the Clerk of Seanad Éireann (Compensation) Act, 1939 (No. 16 of 1939), or (
- q)a pension granted under section 4 of the Court Officers Act, 1945 (No. 25 of 1945), in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of November, 1952. Part II. (
- a)(
- i)A widow's pension granted whether before or after the passing of this Act under Scale (
- i)in paragraph (
- a)of Part II of the First Schedule to the Dublin Metropolitan Police Pensions Order, 1922, as amended by the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1950 ( S.R. & O., No. 154 of 1950 ), or under Scale (
- i)in Paragraph A of Part II of the First Schedule to the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1925 ( S.R. & O., No. 63 of 1925 ), as amended by the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1950. (
- ii)A widow's ordinary pension granted whether before or after the passing of this Act under Scale (
- ii)in paragraph (
- a)in Part II of the First Schedule to the Dublin Metropolitan Police Pensions Order, 1922, or under Scale (
- ii)in Paragraph A in Part II of the First Schedule to the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1925, or a widow's special pension calculated under rule 7 in paragraph (
- a)of Part II of the First Schedule to the Dublin Metropolitan Police Pensions Order, 1922, as amended by the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1950, or under subparagraph 2 of Paragraph A in Part II of the First Schedule to the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1925, as amended by the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1950. (
- b)A widow's pension granted whether before or after the passing of this Act under the Royal Irish Constabulary (Resigned and Dismissed) Pensions Orders, 1924, 1929, 1936 and 1949. (
- c)A widow's pension or child's allowance granted whether before or after the passing of this Act under the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Acts, 1938 to 1952. Part III. (
- a)A pension or allowance which was granted by a local authority and which was in course of payment in whole or in part on the 1st day of August, 1956, being— (
- i)a pension or allowance which was granted in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of November, 1952, or where in the opinion of the Minister special circumstances existed in relation to any class or classes of officers or servants of a local authority and the pension or allowance is in relation to a member of that class or one of those classes, which ended before a day not later than the 6th day of April, 1953, determined by the local authority with the consent of the Minister, or (
- ii)a pension or allowance which was computed in whole or in part by reference to the average annual amount of pensionable remuneration over a period which commenced not less than three months before the 1st day of November, 1952, or, where in the opinion of the Minister special circumstances existed in relation to any class or classes of officers or servants of a local authority and the pension or allowance is in relation to a member of that class or one of those classes, which commenced not less than three months before a day not later than the 6th day of April, 1953, determined by the local authority with the consent of the Minister. (
- b)A pension which is payable by the Minister for Local Government by virtue of subsection
- i)a pension or allowance which was granted in respect of service which ended before the 1st day of November, 1952, or, where in the opinion of the Minister for Industry and Commerce special circumstances existed in relation to any class or classes of officers or servants of a harbour authority and the pension or allowance is in relation to a member of that class or one of those classes, which ended before a day not later than the 6th day of April, 1953, determined by the harbour authority with the consent of that Minister, or (
- ii)a pension or allowance which was computed in whole or in part by reference to the average annual amount of pensionable remuneration over a period which commenced not less than three months before the 1st day of November, 1952, or, where in the opinion of the Minister for Industry and Commerce special circumstances existed in relation to any class or classes of officers or servants of a harbour authority and the pension or allowance is in relation to a member of that class or one of those classes, which commenced not less than three months before a day not later than the 6th day of April, 1953, determined by the harbour authority with the consent of that Minister. Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais