John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason persons who are employed as home helps with the Health Service Executive are being deducted the pension levy when they will not benefit from a pension on reaching retirement; if she will examine the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18530/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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All Health Service Executive employees, including full time and part time employees on the payroll, who are, or are entitled to be members of a public service occupational pension scheme or pension arrangement are subject to the deduction provided for under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, 2009.

Individual employees who opted out of the occupational pension scheme may be entitled to a non-pensionable gratuity on reaching retirement age as provided for under the scheme rules. In addition, the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009 will amend the relevant thresholds and employees earning less than €15,000 will be exempt from the deduction.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the anomaly where workers in a hospital (details supplied) who will not get a public service pension are paying the pension levy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18535/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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This hospital, is deemed to be a public sector employer under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, 2009 (Sections 1 (i), 2 (1) (b) (i) and 2(1) (b) (iii) refer). Employees at the hospital are covered by either a public sector superannuation scheme or a private sector scheme which is funded by the Exchequer. The deduction therefore applies to all employees at this hospital.