Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Finance when he expects to receive the report of the Working Group on Possible Changes to the Public Service Spouse's and Children's Schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17473/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In 2001, the Commission on Public Service Pensions, which had been set up by the Government to examine all aspects of public service pensions, presented a comprehensive reform package in its final Report. In September 2001, the Government accepted the thrust of the Commission's Report, and the period since then has been marked by the progressive implementation, in consultation with the public service unions, of individual Commission recommendations.

In September 2004, following discussions with ICTU, the Government ratified an agreed approach to the remaining recommendations of the Commission. These were aimed at reforming public service pensions in terms of provision for low-income groups, flexibility and modernisation. As part of this approach the Government mandated further study of a number of the Commission's recommendations, including the feasibility of implementing four specific recommendations in relation to Public Service Spouses' and Children's Schemes. These, in summary, are:

Recommendation No. 29. Public service spouses' and children's schemes should be modified to allow payment of a survivor's pension to a financially dependent partner in certain circumstances and a system for the nomination of partners put in place.

Recommendation No. 30. The provision which requires a spouse's pension to cease on grounds of remarriage or cohabitation should be removed.

Recommendation No. 32. Where a dependent child is orphaned and both parents are members of the same spouses' and children's scheme, two children's pensions should be payable.

Recommendation No. 33. An appropriate system for nomination of death gratuity should be introduced into public service pension schemes.

A joint Union/Management Working Group was established in January 2005 to examine each of the above recommendations and report to the Minister for Finance on the implementation of same. The Working Group comprises representatives from various Government Departments, ICTU Public Services Committee and Garda and Permanent Defence Forces representative associations.

The Group has met on a number of occasions to date and there have also been a number of bi-lateral meetings with various Government Departments and private sector pension scheme experts. An Interim Report was completed in July 2005. A draft Final Report is currently being considered by the Group. I understand that discussions on the draft Report are at an advanced stage. The next meeting of the Group is being scheduled for early June.