Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I formulated the amendment in such a way as to raise the issue for debate and clarify the points. It is a way of asking the Minister to publish the purchase tables. I agree that information on the notional service purchase scheme for teachers, dated September 2011, was provided on Committee Stage. I note there is a limit to the number of notional years a person may purchase. For example, a person with 15 years' service on retirement will be permitted to buy a maximum of nine years. A person with ten years' service, therefore, cannot purchase 30 years. It is a case of supplementing rather than a full provision of a pension. The current arrangements for teachers are good. There is nothing to prevent other Departments from adopting such arrangements for current staff who are paying for AVCs. I ask if a similar arrangement could be implemented in due course for such staff when the new scheme is up and running. I will not press the amendment. I am happy to have raised the point and some progress has been made on this issue.

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