Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
284. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that retired teachers with a class A stamp lose the benefit of their supplementary pension if they step in to assist a local school as a substitute teacher; and if she will have this policy changed, considering that so many schools are impacted by the recruitment and retention crisis. [52381/23]
View answerThe pension benefits of teachers, as with all pensionable public servants, are governed by legislation and/or circulars and are paid in accordance with public sector pension policy.
Teachers who paid coordinated pension contributions (Class A) may be entitled to a supplementary pension in order to make up the shortfall in pension for the period between the date of retirement and the date of eligibility for the State Contributory Pension.
Under the rules of the teachers’ pension schemes, a supplementary pension is payable to an individual who:
(i) is in receipt of an occupational pension under the relevant scheme,
(ii) is unemployed, and
(iii) for reasons outside of his or her control, fails to qualify for a social welfare benefit or qualifies for a social welfare benefit at a reduced rate.
Therefore, retired teachers who return to employment are not entitled to receive a supplementary pension for the period of such employment.
The rules surrounding supplementary pensions apply across the public sector and cannot be deviated from in individual cases.
