Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 2

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Pat Carey

Question:

241 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Finance if he will address the perceived anomaly where teachers who retired prior to 1 September 1996 have parity in all the constituent parts of their pensions such as salary scale, academic qualifications and other qualifications but do not have parity in the element which comes from their principal's and deputy principal's allowance in view of the representations of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22253/00]

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 principals' and deputy principals' 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 principals and deputy principals' 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 processed the cases which are the subject of this question in accordance with those guidelines.