Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 1

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Pat Carey

Ceist:

286 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of proposals in the report of the Commission on Public Service Pensions and specifically with regard to the pensions of second level teachers, there are intentions to change the entitlement of teachers to retire between ages 55 and 60 with 35 years service and the limited early retirement scheme introduced as part of the national agreement, the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, in lieu of the salary increase. [26245/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

The age at which public servants, including teachers, should retire and the early retirement provisions available to certain categories of public servants, including teachers, were among the matters which were considered by the Commission on Public Service Pensions. The Government accepted the report of the commission, in principle, in September 2001 and also decided to establish a joint working group with the public services committee of ICTU to examine and report on the implementation of the commission's recommendations. The working group has completed its work and has recently reported.

The recommendations of the pensions commission and the report of the working group are being considered by my colleague the Minister for Finance who has overall responsibility for public service pensions policy. Pending the outcome of those considerations, there will be no change in the age limits for retirement or in the early retirement provisions applicable to certain categories of public servants.

Question No. 287 answered with Question No. 284.