The pension rights for established and non-established State employees are set out in "A Brief Guide to the Occupational Superannuation Scheme for Established Civil Servants" and in the non-contributory pension scheme for non-established State-employees explanatory booklet, respectively. I am forwarding copies of the booklets to the Deputy.
Under the Terms of Employment (Information) Act, 1994, employers, including Civil Service departments, are obliged to provide new employees with a written statement setting out specified details of the employee's terms of employment, including details of the terms and conditions relating to pensions and pension schemes. Departments employing non-established State employees are individually responsible for compliance with this obligation.
Opportunities are notified from time to time to non-established State employees, serving in certain grades and subject to certain conditions, to compete for established positions within the Civil Service. Such competitions are held by the Civil Service Commission.
A scheme to enable non-established State employees to purchase additional years of service for pension purposes was introduced with effect from 1 January 1989. Under this arrangement, staff who would have less than maximum pensionable service at retirement can purchase additional years of service by periodic or lump sum payment. In addition, my Department has facilitated the introduction of a number of additional voluntary contribution schemes which operate by agreement with the relevant unions and which also enable staff to enhance their pension benefits.
