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For Written Answer on : 11/06/2024
Question Number(s): 220 Question Reference(s): 25193/24
Department: Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure; National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he is aware of the implications of the taking of “term time” by public servants on the value of pensions when these workers reach retirement age; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
‘Shorter Working Year’ schemes across the public service enable individual public service employees to apply for special periods of unpaid leave, such as that which may coincide with school holidays in the summer months (term time) or indeed another period during the year.
The rules of these schemes may provide that while such a period of special leave will reckon for the purposes of increments and seniority, this period does not reckon for pension purposes. Similarly, in respect of a career break; this period does not count as reckonable service for pension purposes.
Instead, it is open to the individual to seek to reckon any shortfall in service arising as a result of time spent on career break or a shorter working year by availing of the existing purchase of service mechanisms.
Also note that while on a leave of absence, the individual typically remains a member of their respective public service pension scheme and continues to be covered by the terms of that scheme, such as for death in service purposes.
