James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will consider paying gratuity to long-serving members of local authorities who retired before the scheme was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6610/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Authority Members (Gratuity) Regulations 2002 introduced a retirement service related gratuity for councillors. This involves the payment of a lump sum calculated as 3/20 of representational payment rate on retirement for each year of service since May 2000, up to a maximum of 20 years' service with a minimum three year service requirement. Subject to certain conditions, the gratuity is payable on a councillor's retirement whether on the basis of voluntary retirement, failure to be elected, death or ill health. An earlier scheme was introduced in 1998 and subject to certain criteria was available to elected members retiring at the local elections in June of 1999. In the circumstances, there are no proposals to amend the current gratuity scheme for members of local authorities.