Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2017
588. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the pension entitlements for employees of the former Bord Na Leabhar Gaeilge (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46141/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that the North South Ministerial Council in its meeting of 26 October 2007 approved the proposal to transfer the functions of Board na Leabhar Gaeilge to Foras na Gaeilge, from 1 January 2008. On becoming staff of Foras na Gaeilge the former Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge staff were admitted into the North South Pension Scheme.
At the time of transfer there was no superannuation scheme for Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge and staff were not in a pension scheme.
Foras Na Gaeilge wrote to my Department in May 2017 requesting that service with Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge be made pensionable in respect of those staff who transferred. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform advised that in order to transfer service, staff would need to have been members of a pension scheme that is part of the Public Service Transfer Network. The former staff of Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge were not members of a public service pension scheme prior to their transfer in to Foras na Gaeilge and, therefore, they were ineligible to transfer service.
Foras na Gaeilge has recently written seeking to review the matter and I am advised that my Department is seeking further advice from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in that regard.
