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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 28 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 6

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

392 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to discontinue the system whereby a refund is requested when a full month's pension is paid to the spouse of a national teacher who dies within that month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8960/00]

Where a pensioner dies and pension is paid for any period later than the date of death, my Department, on becoming aware of the pensioner's death, is required to recover any portion of pension paid in respect of the period after death. This is a standard provision of all public sector pension schemes.

Where the excess payment was received by the spouse of the deceased, and the spouse is eligible for payment of a spouses' pension, the excess payment may be offset against the spouse's pension due. For the first month after death, the rate of the spouse's pension will be the equivalent of the deceased's pension. Thereafter, unless there are dependent children, the rate of the spouse's pension will normally be one half of the pension payable to the deceased. Where there are dependent children, the rate of pension payable to the spouse will be increased by one third for each child subject to a maximum of three children.

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