Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 November 2019
145. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to replace parity-linked public service pensions with a consumer price index-linked scheme with effect from October 2020; if his attention has been drawn to opposition to this proposal by retired public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46348/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraPensions paid under the Single Pension Scheme (SPS) are uprated in line with changes in the Consumer Price Index. The 2012 legislation that introduced the SPS includes a provision that allows for the extension of the same method of uprating to the pre-existing pension schemes.
As I informed the Deputy on 5 March 2019 (PQ 10419/19), the Government committed in the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 not to invoke this legislative provision for the duration of the Agreement. That remains the position. The pension increase policy that is currently in place in respect of the pre-existing pension schemes represents a time-limited (expires end-2020), conditions-bound return to the non-statutory, pay-linked method of pension adjustment which prevailed until the onset of the financial emergency.
My officials and I engage with public service pensioners in relation to public service pensions issues, including the matter raised by the Deputy, through meetings with the Alliance of Retired Public Servants. The most recent such meeting took place with officials on 5th November.
