Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 2

Written Answers - Pension Provisions.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

277 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the assistance, if any, he can give to female secondary teachers (details supplied) in terms of pension rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9765/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The details supplied show that this question concerns the position of female secondary teachers who retired from the service on payment of a marriage gratuity and who later returned to teaching.

The position is that under the secondary school teachers' superannuation scheme it was never mandatory for female teachers to resign on marriage. Female teachers appointed on or before 31 July 1963 were, however, eligible for the award of a marriage gratuity provided they had completed six years of pensionable service and retired from approved teaching service no later than the date of their marriage.

It is open to a teacher who retired on payment of a marriage gratuity to return to teaching service. It is also open to the returning teacher to rejoin the superannuation scheme from a current date. If the teacher wishes to reinstate the pensionable service given prior to marriage, however, she must repay the marriage gratuity together with 5 per cent compound interest per year from the date of payment to the date of repayment. An option to repay a marriage gratuity must be exercised while the teacher is in pensionable service.

The provisions which I have outlined are of long standing and are of general application. If the Deputy is aware of a particular teacher who is seeking clarification of her own position in regard to service given prior to marriage, my Department will be happy to deal with the query on an individual basis.