Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2017
645. Deputy James Browne asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the way he plans to address the concerns of post-2013 entrants to the Defence Forces who will no longer be entitled to a supplementary pension when aged between 58 and 60 and must wait to receive retirement benefits when aged over 66. [29497/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe occupational pension scheme terms of post-1 January 2013 new entrants to the public service, including the Permanent Defence Force, are governed by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. The Single Public Service Pension Scheme (“Single Scheme”), which was introduced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, commenced with effect from 1 January 2013. All first-time new entrants to pensionable public service employment on or after that date are members of the Single Scheme.
The new Single Scheme was one of the key structural reform commitments agreed by Government with the EU/IMF under the programme of financial support for Ireland. In the context of the Government’s decision to introduce the Single Scheme, a stated primary objective is to help significantly reduce the cost of public service pensions in the longer-term through far-reaching transformation of the public service pension system. With that in mind, the terms and rules of the Single Scheme are fundamentally different to the superannuation arrangements of all public servants recruited before 1 January 2013. The terms/rules of the Single Scheme, which are set down in the 2012 Act, make no provision for the concept or award of supplementary pensions for any new entrants joining any public service group on or after 1 January 2013. This position has been confirmed to the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations.
Under the 2012 Act, overall statutory responsibility for the formulation of the Single Scheme pension terms/rules rests with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
