Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 116: To ask the Minister for Finance if, in the context of persons who are retired from the public service and are in receipt of pensions from the State, the categories of such persons who can resume working in the public service and retain their pension payments. [24545/04]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Abatement, which is a standard feature of all public service superannuation schemes, is the practice whereby pension payments to a retired public servant may be stopped or reduced if the pensioner is re-employed in certain employments in the public service. The rules and practices governing the application of abatement are often specific to individual pension schemes. As a general guide, the rules of specific pension schemes will confine the application of abatement to re-employment in specific areas/sectors of the public service, normally the area-sector where the pensioner was employed prior to retirement. Given the specific nature of pension scheme rules on abatement, it is not possible to categorise persons who can resume working in the public service and retain their pension payments. The application of abatement will generally only apply within the same area-sector of the public sector from which the person retired. However, as stated, it is necessary to have regard to the terms of the relevant pension scheme to be conclusive in specific cases.