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Civil Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 January 2021

Thursday, 14 January 2021

Questions (85, 86, 89)

Matt Shanahan

Question:

85. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of civil servants on the Secretary General grade; the number on the grade that are in receipt of additional emoluments from the public purse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2101/21]

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Matt Shanahan

Question:

86. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of civil servants recruited through the Top Level Appointments Committee that are in receipt of additional pension rights; the extent of the public liability in respect of such rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2102/21]

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Matt Shanahan

Question:

89. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the precise costs including pension accrual benefits to the State of the three categories of persons being appointed to the role after the existing competition, that is, a person with no prior public service, a person who joined the Civil Service for the first time after 2013 and a person with the same salary and pension entitlements as the new acting secretary general of the Department of Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2105/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 86 and 89 together.

I refer the Deputy to the document attached (TAB A) which details the current Secretary General posts, listed by Government Department. The salaries that apply to Secretary General posts are as outlined in Circular 12 of 2020 which is available here:

https://www.gov.ie/en/circular/39b2c-circular-12-2020-application-of-1st-of-october-2020-pay-adjustments/

I understand the Deputy is also referring to the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) Retirement Terms which apply to appointments to Secretary General posts and certain equivalent posts in the civil service (e.g. Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, Director General of the Office of the Attorney General).

The terms that apply to appointments to these posts since October 2011 are as follows:

(i) Newly appointed Secretaries General may at the end of their term of office be offered an alternative appointment in the Civil or Public Service on the same salary, if they were recruited from the Civil or Public Service, on condition that they do not have 40 years’ service and that they have not reached the applicable minimum pension age. Those recruited from outside the Civil or Public Service will not be made such an offer, but will be covered by paragraph (ii) below.

(ii) If the person is not offered a post as in paragraph (i) above, and has not reached preserved pension age, he/she may be offered severance of 1 year’s salary (or salary to preserved pension age if less), with pension payable on reaching preserved pension age. For those who have reached the applicable minimum pension age, superannuation benefits are payable immediately, with no additional benefits and no severance payment.

(iii) Where an alternative appointment is offered, as in paragraph (i) above, but is not accepted, no severance is payable, and pension is payable at the applicable minimum pension age, with no additional pension benefits. Similar arrangements apply where a Secretary General is given an alternative appointment and later retires.

(iv) Pension benefits of Secretaries General who are members of the new Single Pension Scheme will be based on career-average rather than final salary, and no enhancements.

 The terms that applied to appointments prior to the introduction of revised terms in 2011 are as follows:

(i) Secretaries General may at the end of their term of office be offered an alternative public service post, or a position in an international institution, if the individual is under age 60 on the expiry of their term of office

(ii) If no alternative post is offered or if the individual is over 60 on the expiry of their term the following may be  provided:

- Immediate payment of pension and lump sum, without any actuarial reduction

- Added notional service up to a maximum of 10 years or balance of service to age 65 (subject to a cap)

- Severance payment of 6 months’ salary.

The pension entitlements for those recruited to these positions depend on a range of factors including career history, pay point, date of entry and age of retirement. The value attaching to these terms also will vary from case to case depending on the specific circumstances applying at each retirement. For example, the pension entitlements of an individual who joined the civil service for the first time after 2013 would be based on membership of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme i.e. career average earnings for the calculation of pension benefits depending on years of service, payable from State Pension Age. An individual with no prior service now joining the civil service on foot of a TLAC competition for the position of Secretary General would similarly become members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.

Tab A

Questions Nos. 87 and 88 answered with Question No. 79.
Question No. 89 answered with Question No. 85.
Questions Nos. 90 and 91 answered with Question No. 79.
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