Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in the case of married female nurses who left the service on disability grounds before the widows and orphans scheme was introduced on the 1 September 1984, they were given the option at any stage of buying back into the scheme; her proposals in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33589/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under Circular Letter S. 12/85, an option was given by the former health boards to retired employees to join the Local Government Employees (Spouses' and Children's Contributory Pension) Scheme. To be eligible to join the revised scheme, the retired employee had to be married or widowed and the option form had to returned no later than 31 December, 1985.

Article 204 of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme, 1998, provided a further option for female officers who ceased to hold office before 10 January, 1984, to join the Spouses and Children's Scheme. Eligible female officers had to take up the offer on or before the 30th day of June 1990.

There are no proposals to provide a further option to join the scheme retrospectively.