Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 114: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if Garda pensions are reduced by €60 per week for Gardaí who retired before 1993; if so, the reason for this; and if he has plans to alter same. [12156/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Garda superannuation benefits are paid in accordance with the Garda Síochána Pensions Orders and Agreed Reports of the Garda Conciliation Council. Agreed Report 499 provides that members, who were serving on or after 1 January, 1993 would be entitled to a pension, based on unsocial hours allowances earnings with effect from 1 January, 1994. This Agreement did not make provision in respect of members, who retired prior to 1 January, 1993.

Garda pensions have not been reduced by €60 for members, who retired prior to 1 January, 1993. However, the remuneration upon which their superannuation benefits is calculated does not include unsocial hours allowances. Unsocial hours allowances are included in the remuneration upon which superannuation benefits are calculated for members who retired on or subsequent to 1 January, 1993. This is in accordance with the regulations governing Garda superannuation benefits.