Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Finance the basis, in view of the fact that retained fire officers have no public service pension entitlement and no access to a public service pension scheme, on which they are deemed liable to pay the public service pension levy; if he will review the imposition of the levy on retained fire officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15098/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Retained firefighters are subject to the pension-related deduction as they are entitled to join the Local Government Superannuation Scheme and receive a pension and lump sum from a local authority. Those who do not take that option are eligible for a non-contributory retirement gratuity arrangement. Under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, retained firefighters are, therefore, subject to the deduction.

However, in the recent Supplementary Budget, I announced a change to the structure of the deduction which will exempt the first 15,000 euro of earnings. This should benefit retained firefighters, especially those with no other public service employment.

The Deputy will be aware that I undertook during the Dáil debate on the deduction to have the case of the retained firefighters examined to see if there are exceptional circumstances with regard to this group of public servants. That examination is in progress.