Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2016
373. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 19 October 2016, the reason provision was not made in the revised scheme for refunds of the spouses' and children's payment to be claimed by persons without a spouse or a child, in view of the fact that such a provision had existed previously; and the provisions in the revised scheme that preclude such a refund. [32101/16]
View answerThe Revised Spouses' and Children's Scheme was introduced, in agreement with staff interests, via Circular 16/1984 on 1 September 1984. The major revisions related to eligible beneficiaries and refunds of contributions. The Revised scheme now caters for post-retirement marriages and children which was not the case in the Original scheme. Additionally, children born out of wedlock and adopted children and step-children post-retirement are now deemed eligible beneficiaries which was not the case previously - Paragraph 2 of the Circular refers.
As the scheme now extends to cover post-retirement events it was not deemed possible to offer a refund of contributions.
In relation to refunds of contributions, Paragraph 3 of this Circular states:
"Arising from the additional benefits being provided under the new scheme, the contribution conditions governing that scheme will differ to those applicable to the existing scheme, in that the provisions for refund of periodic contributions will be more restrictive. Specifically, the provisions in the existing scheme for (a) full refund of periodic contributions to members who remain unmarried throughout their contributing membership and (b) partial refund of periodic contributions to certain members whose spouses are deceased at the time they retire or resign, will not apply. Under the new scheme, the only circumstances in which any refund of periodic contributions would be due is where a member retires or resigns without entitlement to pension or to preserved pension and does not transfer his/her service to another employment or where a member pays periodic contributions for a period in excess of 40 years".
