asked the Minister for the Public Service the present position in relation to a link-up of Defence Forces service with service in the Gardaí and secondary teaching in relation to incremental and pension rights.
79.
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Service.
52.
asked the Minister for the Public Service the areas of State and semi-State employment where recognition is given for service in the Defence Forces; and if he will state the recognition given in the State service for service in Defence Forces.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 79 together.
Where a person employed in the public service had prior pensionable service in the Defence Forces during the Emergency up to two years of such pensionable service is, subject to certain conditions, reckonable under pension schemes in the public service, including the civil service. The initiative in having Emergency Defence Forces service recognised for pension purposes in the State-sponsored area rests with the individual organisations. In the time available it is not possible to ascertain from those organisations if they recognise such service.
The question of linking up, for pension purposes, all pensionable service in the Defence Forces with service in the Garda Síochána and secondary teaching is at present being considered in connection with the preparation of a draft scheme for the transfer of pension rights between public service organisations and State-sponsored organisations, including the universities. The new scheme, if accepted, will enable any person serving in a pensionable capacity after the effective date, in any of the organisations which participate in the transfer network, to reckon for pension purposes any pensionable service with any of the other network members, provided
(a) no pension is payable in respect of the earlier service
(b) where a return of contributions or award of gratuity has been made, an appropriate refund is made
(c) the earlier service was not terminated by dismissal.
The draft scheme is complex and having regard to this, and to the number of organisations involved, it will be some time as yet before it is finalised. There are no arrangements for the aggregation of service for incremental purposes between the Defence Forces, Garda and secondary teaching.