Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
62. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to discuss the differing pension entitlements that exist for members of An Garda Síochána based on joining the force pre- or-post 1995. [7917/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for his question and for clarifying that it refers to the payment of occupational supplementary pensions specifically.
The majority of public servants recruited before 6 April 1995 pay Class B or Class D PRSI. This cohort of staff has no entitlement to Social Insurance benefits such as Jobseeker’s Benefit, State Pension Contributory (SPC) and Illness Benefit. Their occupational pension and lump sum forms the entirety of their pension benefit from the public service.
For all new entrants to the public service on or after 6 April 1995 (the introduction of full social insurance for public servants who now pay Class A PRSI) and before 1 January 2013 (the introduction of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme), including members of An Garda Síochána, their pension payment comprises of three components:
(i) A Public Service Occupational Pension which is reduced by the full rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC) payable by the public service employer;
(ii) A Social Insurance Benefit(s) (SPC, Jobseeker’s Benefit etc.), payable, subject to eligibility, by the Department of Social Protection (DSP); and
(iii) Where the full rate of SPC is not payable, a supplementary pension may be payable up to the SPC, subject to eligibility, by the public service employer.
Where a public service employee does not qualify for the SPC or qualifies for a Social Insurance benefit at less than the value of the SPC they may be entitled to a supplementary pension, subject to eligibility criteria, including:
(i) The retired public servant is not in paid employment;
(ii) The retired public servant, due to no fault of their own, fails to qualify for Social Insurance benefit(s) or qualifies for a benefit at less that the value of the SPC; and
(iii) The retired public servant must have reached minimum pension age or retired on grounds of ill-health.
The second condition is important to ensure no duplication of payments from public funds. To verify this condition, currently, prior to payment of the Occupational Supplementary Pension, a retired public service employee must engage with the DSP and obtain proof that they have exhausted any relevant benefits for which they may be eligible under the Social Insurance system.
My Department is aware that there are some issues concerning the procedures for qualifying for the payment of an Occupational Supplementary Pension, in particular the requirement to engage with the DSP. In this regard, we have liaised with the Department of Justice and DSP on these matters and my officials are currently reviewing the existing system with the relevant stakeholders, with a view to streamlining the process.
