Pension Provisions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 April 2019

Thursday, 4 April 2019

Ceisteanna (69, 72)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

69. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will examine the possibility of widening the applicability of the home care credit in the calculation of pension entitlements for retired workers, specifically workers in semi-State organisations and bodies such as the Central Bank, who may have no entitlement to State contributory pensions and whose workplace pensions are disadvantaged by the refusal of the semi-State employers to give credit to workers for years out of the workforce raising families; if the legislation can be amended to cover such workers and ensure all women who raise families are given home care credits in calculating their final pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15848/19]

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

72. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if legislation governing the pension entitlements of workers (details supplied) can be amended to allow women who raised families and took leave from their workplaces for those periods to avail of home care credits similar to those recently amended under the contributory pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15854/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 72 together.

First, I should note that while I have overall policy responsibility in relation to public service pension schemes, questions about the pension schemes of any particular public service body should be referred to the Minister of the parent Department for the body concerned.

To address the general point raised, the Deputy will appreciate that the terms of occupational pension schemes (both private sector and public service pension schemes) are separate and distinct from the conditions laid down by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in relation to the State Pension (contributory).

For example, it is a fundamental feature of occupational pension schemes and of the regulatory framework within which they operate that pension entitlements are, in general, earned in respect of periods of paid employment and having regard to the amounts of remuneration earned. The State Pension (contributory), on the other hand, has regard to each person’s social insurance record, which may include periods in insurable employment, voluntary contributions and credited contributions.

Any attempt to insert home credits into public service occupational pension schemes would run counter to fundamental principles underpinning those schemes and would represent a very substantial cost to the State.

I would also point out that members of most pre-2013 public service pension schemes, including those of State bodies and bodies such as the Central Bank, will have the option to purchase notional pensionable service at full cost to themselves and subject to the normal purchase scheme limits, including compliance with Revenue limits in relation to the obtaining of tax relief on their purchase contributions, and so may compensate in this way for taking time out of work for home caring.

In relation to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, which is the career average defined benefit pension scheme applicable to most new entrant public servants from January 2013, arrangements to facilitate the purchase of Single Scheme benefits additional to the benefits accrued based on pensionable remuneration earned by the Scheme member, are currently being finalised.