Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a worker switches from full-time to part-time working, if pension contributions for full-time years confer extra benefits if the person retires with only part-time earnings; and his views on legal changes to allow more flexible work patterns without eroding pension rights. [10599/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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In the past many company pension plans only catered for full-time employees. However, following the introduction of The Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act, 2001, this is generally no longer the case. Employers must now provide pro-rata benefits for part-time employees who work at least 20% of the time worked by a comparable full-time employee, unless there are special circumstances whereby part-time employees need not be included.

It is not possible to say what the impact on the pension benefits of a person will be if they change from full to part-time working as this depends, subject to the legislation referred to, on the rules of the individual schemes. Any proposals to changes to employment protection legislation as it relates to flexible working and to further enhance the position of part-time workers would be a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in the first instance.