Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the position in relation to Civil Service staff who retired early on ill health grounds; the additional concessions or facilities available to such staff and particularly in the case of Revenue Commissioners staff; if they qualify for the equivalent of the free schemes, fuel allowance and so on which would be available to those on an equivalent invalidity social welfare pension if they were in the social welfare net; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19548/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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When a civil servant with at least five years' actual reckonable service retires on grounds of permanent ill-health, there is immediate payment of pension and lump sum. The retirement benefits may be supplemented by the award of added years, at the discretion of the Minister for Finance, the amount of which depends on the member's age and actual service. In respect of the Spouse's and Children's pension scheme, benefits are based upon the pension which would have been payable if the member had served to maximum retiring age, subject to a 40-year limit and provided that the appropriate contributions have been made. The terms of ill health retirement are set out in the Superannuation Handbooks which are available at www.cspensions.gov.ie.

Qualification for schemes operated by the Department of Social & Family Affairs is a matter for the Minister of that Department.