David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the backlog will be cleared regarding the revised method for reckoning variable pensionable allowances for pension purposes in the public health sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4285/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Circular 8 of 2008 was issued from my Department on 22 December 2008. This circular is effective from 1 April 2004, and should be read in conjunction with the Department of Finance Circular: 10/2008 - Public Service Pension Reform: Revised method of reckoning variable pensionable allowances for pension purposes. The circular outlines a change in the method of reckoning variable pensionable allowances for pension purposes in the public health service.

This circular introduced recommendation 22.9.14 of the Commission of Public Service Pensions which concluded that the pension system should not result in a distortion of preferred work choices and recommended that the reckoning of variable pensionable allowances under the three-year averaging rule should be changed to an average of the variable pensionable allowances received in the best three consecutive years in the ten years preceding retirement, as uprated to the date of retirement.

I understand that all pension benefits processed since the date of issue of this circular, are calculated with reference to the revised method. Where someone retired between the effective date of the circular and the date of issue the pensions benefits fall due to be revised. It is a matter for each employer to satisfy itself that it is managing its executive functions in this regard.

With regard to the clearing of backlogs, as this is an operational matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.