Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
611. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to set out the terms and conditions that exist for fire fighters in respect of the payment of pension entitlements by local authorities. [12730/15]
View answer612. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to set out the pension entitlements local authority fire fighters are entitled to as a result of paying a pension levy. [12731/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 611 and 612 together.
Full time fire-fighters are members of the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS) and receive a pension and retirement lump sum based on their pensionable remuneration and length of service.
In 2008, retained fire-fighters were given the option of joining the LGSS and receive a pension and retirement lump sum based on their pensionable remuneration and length of service. Retained fire-fighters who opted not to join the scheme receive, on retirement, a gratuity of 1/8th of the annual retainer multiplied by the number of years of actual service (up to a maximum of four times the annual retainer).
The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act (2009) states that any public servant who is a member of a public service pension scheme, is entitled to a benefit under such a scheme, or receives a payment in lieu of membership in such a scheme, is subject to a deduction from their remuneration. Additional pension benefits do not arise as a result of this deduction. The payment of the gratuity is a payment in lieu of membership of a pension scheme, and as such retained fire-fighters are subject to the deduction outlined in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act (2009).
All full time and retained fire-fighters appointed after 1 January 2013 must join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.
