Vol. 474 No. 8
90 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Education the pension rights of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary and other child care workers, in view of the fact that they are members of two pension schemes, her Department's pension scheme and the Department of Social Welfare Class A1 social insurance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4099/97]
The person referred to by the Deputy is employed as a residential care staff member in one of the five special schools for young offenders. The special schools superannuation schemes were formulated to provide a superannuation code for the non-teaching staffs of these special schools. The schemes are loosely based on the Civil Service superannuation code for unestablished staff (i.e. staff who pay full PRSI contributions) and consist of a main pension scheme and a spouses' and children's scheme. Membership of the superannuation schemes is compulsory for all permanent non-teaching staff in the schools who are under 60 years of age on appointment. The person in question is a member of the schemes. Retirement is compulsory for all members when they reach 65 years of age.
A member who has completed at least five years' pensionable service and who retires on or after reaching 60 years of age shall be eligible to receive a pension calculated as follows: retiring salary minus twice the annual old age pension rate multiplied by the number of years pensionable service, divided by 80. The member shall also be eligible to receive a lump sum calculated as follows: retiring salary multiplied by number of years pensionable service multiplied by three divided by 80. In addition to the entitlements under the special schools superannuation schemes, members are also entitled to apply for receipt of a contributory old age pension from the Department of Social Welfare on reaching the required age. Determination of eligibility for receipt of a contributory old age pension is a matter for the Department of Social Welfare.
