Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if doctors employed in public hospitals (details supplied) on temporary contracts in the 1970s and 1980s are entitled to a public service pension; the procedures involved to the public to ascertain such information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30910/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Before 1st October, 1979 junior hospital doctors, being temporary post holders, did not have access to employee superannuation schemes in the public health sector. On 1st August, 1979 the Department of the Environment issued Circular Letter S. 6/79 which provided access to superannuation schemes for junior hospital doctors. I am arranging for a copy of the relevant circular to be forwarded to you directly. It also sets out the procedure for reckoning service by junior hospital doctors in voluntary hospitals from 1969, when the relevant scheme was introduced, and also for reckoning pre-scheme service.

Junior hospital doctors employed in a public hospital from 1st October, 1979 had their names entered in the register of pensionable officers and they paid employee pension contributions to the relevant superannuation scheme. Where such employees preserved benefits (this was mandatory once 5 years service was accumulated), a preserved pension benefit accrued. Where the employee took up future public sector pensionable employment, the junior hospital doctor service transferred on a knock-for-knock basis between public schemes. If the employee left the public service without preserving benefits, s/he would be entitled to re-instate such service at a future date if s/he re-entered public sector employment.