Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
456. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date on which retired public sector workers received their pension increases in line with the pay increases received by their peers in employment (details supplied) and the increased pension-related expenditure paid out on that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43227/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the previous Government approved the current pension increase policy as part of its commitments under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA). Under this policy, which applied for the duration of the PSSA, pay increases granted to serving staff over the course of the PSSA were passed on to those pensions awarded under the pre-existing public service schemes where the salary on which the pension was based did not exceed the salary of serving staff with the same grade and scale point, after the pay increase had been applied. If it qualified, the pension was eligible for an increase to the extent that this would ensure alignment with the pay of serving staff.
The Minister has approved the continuation of the above pension increase policy for the period to the end of 2022, including the pension increase in October 2021 as a result of the general round pay increase of 1% or €500, whichever is greater. In that regard, Circular 10/2021 was issued to sanction and give guidance on the application of the policy over that period in respect of pay restoration and pay increases for serving staff under Building Momentum, A New Public Service Agreement 2021-2022. The Circular can be found in electronic form at: www.gov.ie/en/circular/e3bc7-instruction-on-the-pension-increase-policy-in-the-public-service-until-end-2022/.
The application of pension increase policy falls within the remit of the pension administrator for the employing Department or body and therefore all further questions should be directed to the Department of Education in the first instance.
