John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Finance when the accompanying regulation to the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 will be notified to local authorities in order that pension entitlements will be calculated for part-time employees. [17663/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 and any regulations made under that Act are the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has responsibility for pensions of staff in local authorities and these are already covered by the provisions of the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001.

However, I can answer the Deputy in the context of my responsibility for public service pensions reform. The Deputy may be aware that the Commission on Public Service Pensions, as part of its terms of reference, had regard to claims for improvements to pension arrangements for part-time public servants, particularly with regard to access to pension schemes and the method of integration of occupational pensions with social insurance benefits. The commission recommended that access to public service pension schemes should be granted to public servants in part-time work provided they are in regular or quasi-permanent employment and that they work a certain minimum number of hours per week. This recommendation was overtaken by legislation and a legal basis for access to pension schemes for part-time employees was provided with effect from 20 December 2001 by the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001.

Following consideration of the integration arrangements, the commission recommended a change in the form of integration from full to pro rata integration for the pensions of part-time public servants. In budget 2004, the Minister for Finance announced that the Government had decided to implement the bulk of the recommendations of the Commission on Public Service Pensions. Discussions were subsequently held with the unions and on 14 September 2004, following Government approval, the Minister announced the introduction of certain key recommendations, including the proposal for pro rata integration. These will enhance the pension benefits of part-time employees in the public service, including the local authorities.

My Department is finalising a detailed circular on revised arrangements for part-time public servants as part of the public service pensions reform package. It is intended to issue the circular in the near future.