Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 September 2023
170. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when retired OPW workers will receive increases on their pension in relation to backpay due to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41947/23]
View answerI am advised by the National Shared Services Office that pension increases on foot of pay awards on 1 February, 2022 and that of 1 October, 2022 backdated to 2 February, 2022, and the 1 March, 2023 pay increase have been paid in cases where retirees were on pay scale points. OPW pensioners are often on off scale points and not linked to Civil Service pay scales which means they have to be reviewed manually.
This process is ongoing and OPW are working with the NSSO currently on the payment of any outstanding cases. Consequently while the majority of pensioners have received increases and their associated arrears, those with particular allowances and on off scale points may not have not yet received their payments. OPW and the NSSO are working towards finalising this work.
The OPW have consulted with the NSSO and the NSSO have provided the following response input.
Pension increases due following pay awards on 1 Feb, 2022 and that of 1 Oct, 2022 backdated to 2 Feb, 2022, and the 1 March, 2023 pay increase have already been paid in cases where retirees were on standard pay scale points.
A number of OPW pensioners are occasionally on off-scale points & not linked to Civil Service pay scales which means they have to be reviewed manually. This process is ongoing and OPW are working with the NSSO currently on the payment of any outstanding cases.
Consequently while the majority of pensioners have received increases and their associated arrears, a small number of cases of those with particular allowances and on off-scale points may not have yet received their payments. The OPW and the NSSO are actively working towards finalising this work.
This response has been recently provided to a similar query PQ41346/23
