Peter Fitzpatrick
Question:5. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason a person (details supplied) did not receive an Army pension after 21 years of service. [34965/19]
View answerFriday, 6 September 2019
Questions (5)
Written answers
The position is that the individual in this case did not have the minimum pensionable service required to be eligible for a pension from the Department of Defence.
In general, the minimum service required by a non-commissioned officer or private of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) who enlisted prior to 1 April 2004, to qualify for a pension under the Defence Forces (Pensions) Schemes is 21 years or 12 years if discharged on medical grounds.
Under the Scheme rules, service under the age of 16 years, and service in the First Line Reserve are not counted as reckonable service.
There are no discretionary provisions contained in the Defence Forces (Pensions) Schemes which would allow for a pension to be awarded to a former member of the PDF without that member having the required minimum service of 21 years to qualify for a pension.
I can however confirm that the individual in this case was awarded a gratuity appropriate to his service and rank on his discharge from the PDF. I can also confirm that the individual was aware at the time of discharge that he would not be eligible for a pension due to not having the required minimum service.