Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in relation to a submission by the human resources directorate of the Irish Prison Service to his Department regarding professional added years for pension purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23378/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Irish Prison Service is bound by the guidelines for the award of added years for pension purposes as provided by the Department of Finance.

I have been informed that information was sought by the Irish Prison Service, in the first instance, from the Public Appointments Service in relation to the terms of recruitment of the officer concerned in order to ascertain whether he is eligible to be credited with Professional Added Years.

I can now advise the Deputy that following receipt of this information, a submission was sent to the Department of Finance for observations. That Department has now advised the Irish Prison Service that the essential requirements of the competition from which this individual was appointed would not have precluded anyone from being appointed by the age of thirty i.e. in sufficient time to acquire the maximum service of thirty years required for optimum superannuation benefits.

Accordingly, the person in question (or anyone else appointed from the same competition) is not entitled to an award of professional added years. I understand from the Irish Prison Service that the person has been advised of the situation.