asked the Minister for Defence the reason some Army pension qualifications have been cut back from 31 years to 21 years, at the age of 70; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Army Pension Qualifications.
41.
Under the Defence Forces (Pensions) Schemes soldiers' pensions consist of three elements: 1. Basic pension; 2. A long-service increment for each year of qualifying service in excess of 21 years but not exceeding 31 years, and; 3. An additional increment, in respect of each year of qualifying service in excess of 21 years but not exceeding 31 years.
The basic pension and the long-service increment are paid to the pensioner during his lifetime. However, in accordance with the principle widely accepted in the public sector of co-ordinating occupational pensions with social welfare benefits, the additional increment terminates when the ex-soldier reaches the age prescribed for a contributory old age pension or becomes otherwise entitled to a retirement pension under the Social Welfare Acts. The additional increment would, however, continue to be paid if, without his own default, the ex-soldier fails to qualify for a contributory old age pension. This has been the position for very many years.