Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the problem of deficits in pension funds in the public and private sectors. [18325/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Deficits in pension funds arise for a number of reasons and can be of a temporary nature or may be more significant. It is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant company, fund, trustees, members and board to deal with any such situation, subject to the necessary legislation and regulation by the Pensions Board as appropriate. In the non-commercial State sector, the funding situation in relation to pension schemes should be raised directly with the relevant Ministers who are responsible, in the first instance, for the organisations concerned. The funding situation in respect of commercial State bodies is a matter for the board or each organisation concerned and I would expect that any relevant issue would be brought to the attention of the Ministers directly concerned as necessary.

Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has received any representations regarding the pension deficits in the pension fund of many State companies which operate defined benefit schemes; his estimate of the scale of these deficits; if his approval has been sought for Exchequer contributions to these schemes or to put these schemes under the management of the national pension reserve fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18412/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to the response which I gave to a similar parliamentary question tabled by him for answer on 27 April. The question of the funding situation in pension schemes in the commercial State sector is primarily a matter for the board of each organisation directly concerned and I would expect that any relevant issues will be brought to the attention of the Ministers directly concerned as and when appropriate.

The question of the funding situation in pension schemes in the non-commercial State sector should be raised directly by the Deputy with the relevant Ministers who are responsible in the first instance for the supervision of the organisations concerned. There is a wide variety of such schemes, for example, some funded on a pay as one goes basis and some funded on a partly funded basis using resources provided through the relevant grants with pension outlays partly resourced from the funds concerned and from ongoing grants. It is a matter for the relevant board in charge of such organisations to ensure that funds it supervises operate in accordance with the approved arrangements.

From a general policy point of view, my Department has received some contacts. The general position is that the relevant board in charge of such organisations, in conjunction with their appropriate sponsoring Department, will ensure that the funds concerned are in a position to discharge their obligations. As regards the national pensions reserve fund, the relevant statutory provisions governing this fund provide that the purpose of this fund is to ensure that resources are available for the longer-term pension needs of social welfare and public service pensions. The question of any short-term needs in particular pension funds is a separate matter for the organisation and the Minister concerned.