Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Feb 1993

Vol. 425 No. 7

Written Answers. - Pension Entitlements.

Austin Currie

Question:

153 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of people who formerly worked in the United Kingdom are entitled to pensions from pension schemes of which they are unaware because of a change of address or memory lapse or liquidation or takeover or some such factors, and that a register of occupational and personal pension schemes has been established in the United Kingdom which will assist such people to establish whether they have a pension entitlement; and if he will take steps to publicise this fact.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

I am aware that a register of Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes has been established in the United Kingdom which will assist people to establish whether they have a pension entitlement.

The Pensions Board, which was set up under the Pensions Act, 1990 will, through its registration system, be assisting members of Occupational Pension Schemes in Ireland who have changed jobs in the course of their career, to trace the schemes in which their benefits are preserved. This facility, which is similar to that which operates in the UK, will be brought into operation this year. As there are Irish people living here who may be entitled to Occupational Pensions from the UK, I have requested the Board, when introducing their own facility, to publicise as extensively as possible the existence of the UK register. I have also asked them to provide information to members of the public who require assistance in this regard.