School Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Questions (321)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

321. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a cohort of retired teachers unable to substitute without giving up approximately €8,000 of their pension, particularly teachers employed after 1995 including older teachers who may have begun teaching pre-1995 and returned post 1995; her views on the fact that schools are in great need of substitute teachers; the steps she will take to deal with this anomaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60175/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

To alleviate the teacher supply difficulties, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in January 2021 approved, for a limited period of 3 years, a 50 day waiver of abatement of Public Service Pensions under section 52 (4) of the Single Pension Scheme and other Provisions Act (2012)., for all appropriately qualified teachers.

The waiver has been extended recently to the end of the current calendar year so that all retired teachers returning to classrooms until the end of the current school term will not have their pension abated.

If a retired teacher has specific concerns about their pension payment and returning to work the staff in Pensions Unit in the Department of Education are available to address their queries.