Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2016
369. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of public service pensions in 2015, including any lump sums payable to persons upon retirement; the number of recipients at the year's end; and the projected equivalent figures in 2016, 2020, 2025 and 2030. [36346/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cost of public service pensions inclusive of lump sums in 2015 was €2.909 billion, as reported in 2015 Appropriation Account. The number of recipients was 154,681. For 2016, the estimated cost of public service pensions is €2.929 billion, with the estimated number of recipients at 161,876.
My Department has published a figure of €98 billion as the estimated accrued liability for Public Service occupational pensions as at 31 December 2012. This represented a 16% reduction since the previous valuation published in 2009. The Department is currently revising and updating its estimate of the accrued liability, as of end-2015 and this information is expected to be published in 2017. Further information on the public service accrued liability update can be found at http://www.per.gov.ie/en/public-service-pensions-accrued-liability/. In this context, the Department does not maintain detailed forecasts of the annual cash cost of public service pensions for specific years into the future, such as referred to in the Deputy's question.
