Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2024
273. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 205 of 10 October 2023, if she will respond to the issues raised by a person who made protected disclosures to her Department but has since not received the improved pension as promised to her by the then Minister for Education in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7572/24]
View answerThe Department concluded its investigation into the disclosure made a number of years ago, and corresponded with the discloser at that time to inform them of the outcome. The Department corresponded in writing with the discloser’s solicitor on 5 October 2020 and 25 May 2021, and directly with the discloser on 14 August 2018, 28 January 2019 and 29 September 2021. The Department will re-send these pieces of correspondence to the discloser in the coming days for their records. The correspondence also advised that the Department worked with the school to support the school to address weaknesses identified in inspection reports and highlighted in the disclosure.
In accordance with section 24 of the Education Act, 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act, 2012) the board of management of a school is the employer of teachers. Matters of an employment nature must be addressed to the Board of the school in the first instance.
The discloser has been advised on a number of occasions to seek their own legal advice in relation to matters concerning their former employment which impacts on their pension. The Department is not in a position to arbitrarily increase the value of individual pensions. The pension benefits of teachers, as with all pensionable public servants, are governed by legislation and/or circulars and are in accordance with public sector pension policy.
