As the Deputy may be aware, I have overall policy responsibility in relation to public service occupational pension schemes payable to retired public servants.
My Department is aware that there are some issues concerning the procedures for qualifying for the payment of an Occupational Supplementary Pension and we are liaising with the Department of Social Protection and other key stakeholders to review the processes involved and establish if a more efficient and streamlined approach is possible.
My Department understands that this is a live issue and appreciate the concerns raised by members of An Garda Síochána and their representative bodies and the matter is under active consideration.
In relation to part-time employment, where an individual in receipt of an occupational supplementary pension takes up employment, for example, for one day, the supplementary pension would cease for that one day only and will be payable for the other 4 working days in the week, similar to how an entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit is treated. Therefore, taking up paid employment for one day in the week/year would not cause an occupational supplementary pension fully. The occupational supplementary pension would not be payable for that one day of paid employment. My officials have confirmed this policy with the Department of Justice.
