Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 2

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Michael P. Kitt

Question:

232 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself that the PCW pay deal has not been breached where (i) school principals and deputy principals who retired prior to 1 September 1996 do not have parity in the elements of their pensions which arise from posts of responsibilities and (ii) retired teachers who retired prior to 1 September 1996 and fulfilled the conditions for the long service increment have been denied the benefit of this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22169/00]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy):

Primary responsibility for teachers' pensions rests with my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science.

I understand from the Minister for Education and Science that the payments referred to in this case are the long service allowance and the restructured scales of principal's and deputy principal's allowance. The long service allowance is payable, on a pilot basis, to teachers with 35 years of service with effect from 1 August 1996. The restructured scales of the principal's and deputy principal's allowance are payable with effect from 1 September 1996.

In November 1997 the Government announced that the benefit of the restructuring pay deals under the PCW would apply on the basis of pensions parity to public servants who had retired before the commencement dates. Following this decision, my Department issued comprehensive guidelines to Government Departments and other agencies to assist them in implementing that decision in relation to the groups of public service pensioners for which they were responsible. The Department of Education and Science has confirmed that it has processed the cases which are the subject of this question in accordance with those guidelines.