Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2004
13 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science if any progress has been made in relation to transferability of pension entitlements arising from years of teaching service in Northern Ireland and the Republic; and the position regarding the reports from the joint working group on teachers superannuation which was established by a decision of the North-South Ministerial Council four years ago. [5106/04]
View answerThe joint working group on teachers' superannuation is continuing to examine the feasibility and implication of establishing reciprocal arrangements to facilitate the transfer of pension entitlements between the jurisdictions. The working group is very much aware that the superannuation of teachers cannot be considered in isolation and that any proposals for the transfer of pension entitlements will have to take account of the implications for the public service generally.
In this connection, the North-South Ministerial Council, which established the group, decided at its plenary meeting on 28 June 2002, that a broad-based working group should be set up to consider the question of superannuation generally, including the mobility of pension rights not only between this jurisdiction and Northern Ireland but between this jurisdiction and the wider United Kingdom. This decision, which was taken following consideration by the council of a report on the study of obstacles to cross-Border mobility on the island of Ireland, has not yet been implemented due to the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
In light of the ongoing suspension of the Assembly the joint working group on teachers' superannuation decided to continue its work on the basis that this will assist the work of the wider pensions forum when it is established. Having considered the many complex issues involved, the working group has requested the actuaries on both sides to examine the financial implications of the possible approaches to cross-Border transfer of teaching service. In considering the question, the actuaries are taking into account such matters as the exchange rate, price inflation, earnings escalation and salary scales. It is expected that the report by the actuaries will be available to the working group in the next month or so.
