Written Answers. - Teachers' Pensions.
Paul McGrath
Question:
367
Mr. McGrath
asked the
Minister for Education
the pension options which were available to each category of teacher over 55 years of age at 31 August 1993; the reason each category have different benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The superannuation of national and secondary teachers is governed by separate superannuation provisions made under the Teachers Superannuation Act, 1928 while the superannuation of vocational teachers is governed by the Local Government Superannuation code.
The following are the current superannuation options available to serving teachers including teachers over 55 years of age. These options also applied at 31 August, 1993.
National, Secondary, Comprehensive, Community and Vocational School Teachers may continue to give pensionable teaching service until the end of the school year in which they reach 65 years. Then if they have completed at least five years pensionable service they are eligible for a pension on retirement.
They may, however, retire earlier with immediate eligibility for a pension provided:
(i) they have reached 60 years of age and have at least five years of pensionable service, or
(ii) they have completed at least five years of pensionable service and satisfy the Ministers for Education and Finance (or the vocational education committee in the case of Vocational Teachers) that, while in the service, they have become incapable from infirmity of mind or body of discharging the duties of a teacher and that such infirmity is likely to be permanent, or
(iii) in the case of national school teachers they have reached 55 years of age and have at least 35 years of pensionable service.
Teachers with at least five years of pensionable service, who retire without immediate eligibility to pension have the option of preserving their pension rights and becoming eligible for a pension and lump sum on reaching 60 years of age.
Teachers who retire from teaching without immediate eligibility to pension, and who subsequently enter pensionable employment with an organisation which participates in the Public Service or Local Government Scheme for Transfer of Service for superannuation purposes, have the option of transferring their teaching service to reckon with the subsequent service in the new organisation for superannuation purposes on ultimate retirement.
Superannuation provisions for national school teachers have operated from the 1870's. The different superannuation provisions for the different categories of teachers arise from the era when the provisions first operated.
