asked the Minister for Defence if he will continue payment of £2.41 per week for each year of service in excess of 21 years served by non-commissioned officers and privates who qualify for Defence Forces pension schemes and become entitled to social welfare retirement pension.
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Pension Schemes.
40.
, Limerick West): Under the Defence Forces (pensions) schemes, soldiers' pensions consist of three elements as follows:
(a) a basic pension in respect of 21 years' qualifying service,
(b) a long-service increment for each year of qualifying service in excess of 21 years but not exceeding 31 years, and
(c) an additional increment of £2.41 a week in respect of each year of qualifying service in excess of 21 years but not exceeding 31 years.
The basic pension and the long service increment are paid to the pensioner during his lifetime. However, in accordance with the principle widely accepted in the public sector of co-ordinating occupational pensions with social welfare benefits, the additional increment ceases to be payable when the ex-soldier reaches the age prescribed for a contributory old age pension or becomes otherwise entitled to a retirement pension under the Social Welfare Acts. As a special concession, the additional increment continues to be payable up to 70 years of age in the case of a pensioner discharged prior to the 1 August 1978, provided he is not in receipt of a social welfare retirement pension. The additional increment would continue to be paid if, without is own default, the ex-soldier fails to qualify for a contributory old age pension.
This has been the position for very many years and no change is proposed.