Public Sector Pensions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 January 2014

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

Questions (378)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

378. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form and year on year, the occasions on which she has signed off on the awarding of added years to public sector workers between March 2011 and December 2013; the grade of the persons awarded the added years; and the number of added years awarded in each instance. [1366/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In the case of ill health retirement, added years may be awarded on receipt of a recommendation from the Chief Medical Officer that the person concerned is incapable on medical grounds of regular and effective service and that this medical incapacity is likely to be permanent.

As Minister, I am the appropriate deciding authority for cases of grades at Principal level and above within the Department of Social Protection. During the period in question, there have been no cases that required me to make a decision regarding added years for retiring officers.

I have no decision role in the award of professional added years. These are awarded strictly in accordance with the rules of the superannuation schemes, as set out in centralised circulars.

The appropriate deciding authority for added years in the context of ill health retirements for officials at and below Assistant Principal level is the Secretary General of the Department.

For the information of the Deputy, details of all cases where added years was awarded in my Department between March 2011 and December 2013 are set out in the following tables:

PERIOD: 1/3/2011 to 31/12/2011

GRADE	AWARD	REASON
SVO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	4 years 5 days	Ill health added years
CO	4 years 132 days	Ill health added years
CO	2 years 184 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 18 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
SO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
SO	3 years 227 days	Ill health added years
SO	60.6 days	Ill health added years
EO	2 years 313 days	Ill health added years
EO	2 years 6 days	Ill health added years
EO	2 years 208 days	Ill health added years
HEO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	5 years 342 days	Ill health added years
AP	3 years 134 days	Professional added years
Medical Assessor	7 years 225 days	Professional added years
Accountant	259 days	Professional added years

PERIOD: 1/1/2012 to 31/12/2012

GRADE	AWARD	REASON
CO	2 years 55 days	Ill health added years
CO	2 years 35 days	Ill health added years
CO	4 years 228 days	Ill health added years
CO	5 years 1 day	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	8 years 347 days	Ill health added years
CO	7 years 149 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 11 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	8 years 54 days	Ill health added years
SO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
SO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
EO	4 years 205 days	Ill health added years
EO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
EO	2 years 261 days	Ill health added years
EO	1 year 328 days	Ill health added years
EO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	3 years 40 days	Ill health added years
HEO	3 years 79 days	Ill health added years
HEO	3 years 79 days	Ill health added years
Medical Assessor	4 years 331 days	Professional added years
Medical Assessor	5 years 87 days	Professional added years

PERIOD: 1/1/2013 to 31/12/2013

GRADE	AWARD	REASON
CO	270 days	Ill health added years
CO	1 year 31 days	Ill health added years
CO	3 years 353.5 days	Ill health added years
CO	8 years 359 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
CO	8 years 257 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 146.5 days	Ill health added years
CO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
EO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
EO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
EO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	6 years 243 days	Ill health added years
HEO	6 years 86.5 days	Ill health added years
HEO	4 years 46 days	Ill health added years
Medical Assessor	7 years	Professional added years