Vol. 484 No. 1
114 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science whether he will review the regulations that apply to Members of the Oireachtas who are members of the teaching profession regarding pay, replacement teachers and pension entitlements. [21635/97]
My Department is currently reviewing the regulations in question. There are complex issues involved and it is not possible at this stage to indicate when the review will be completed.
In the meantime, as the Deputy will be aware, the position regarding pension entitlements has changed with effect from the establishment of the current Dáil. Previously a period of service as a Member of the Oireachtas could, in the case of a former teacher, be counted for pension benefits under both the Houses of the Oireachtas pension scheme and the teachers' superannuation scheme. The position now is that a period of service as a Member of the Oireachtas, given from the establishment of the current Dáil, may be counted for pension benefits in the case of a former teacher under either the Houses of the Oireachtas pension scheme or the teachers' superannuation scheme but not both.
A Member of the Oireachtas who has contributed to both of these pension schemes in respect of the same period of service, given after the establishment of the current Dáil, will be eligible for pension benefits in respect of that period under one scheme and, under the other scheme, will receive a refund of superannuation contributions made in respect of that period. The Member will have the option of choosing which of the schemes to benefit from.
