Michael Creed
Question:180 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science the knock-on impact on the level of payment of pensions for retired teachers of any increases in salary secured through the benchmarking process. [9136/01]
Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.
I am not in a position at present to address the possible outcome of the benchmarking exercise under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
Currently, the pensions of retired teachers are increased in line with general pay increases, which apply to all employees in the State, and special pay increases, which apply specifically in the case of teachers. In addition to general increases and special increases, a teacher's pay may also be increased through restructuring, which can take the form of restructuring an existing allowance or introducing a new allowance. Restructuring increases are fully reflected in the pensions of all teachers who had the benefit of the restructuring increases in pay.
The general issue of pension increases for public servants is considered in the report of the Commission on Public Service Pensions, which was published in January. The Government intends to make formal decisions on the implementation of the Commission's recommendations, including those relating to future pensions increase policy, once it has had an opportunity to consider the report in detail.