Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
184. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason that retired civil servants with qualifying pensions have not yet received the 1% pay increase that was granted in October 2021 which current civil servants have already received; when he expects that all persons eligible for this pension increase will have their increase applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27288/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a general round increase in annualised basic salary of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, is provided for on 1 October 2021 in Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement, 2021-2022.
Under the current pension increase policy for pre-existing public service pension schemes, this increase falls to be passed on to those pensions awarded under the pre-existing public service schemes where the salary on which the pension is based does not exceed the salary of serving staff with the same grade and scale point, after the pay increase has been applied. If it qualifies, the pension is eligible for an increase to the extent that this will ensure alignment with the pay of serving staff.
This policy is outlined in detail in my Department’s Circular 10/2021, which is available here: www.gov.ie/en/circular/e3bc7-instruction-on-the-pension-increase-policy-in-the-public-service-until-end-2022/
As stated in Building Momentum at section 3.1.4: Where an individual is due an amount of pay restoration from July 2021 under section 19 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, they will not benefit from the general round increase in that year.
I can confirm from records from the National Shared Service Office (NSSO) that as of today, Tuesday 31st May - 23,993 eligible retired Civil Servants have received their October 2021 increase.
2,092 retired staff have yet to receive their October 2021 increases. The outstanding increases are currently being reviewed for action, with 779 to be inputted onto the payroll system for the coming payroll periods.
