Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 726: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the pension entitlements for a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12324/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The person in question retains no entitlement to an occupational pension in respect of his service as a secondary school teacher.

The person left teaching at the end of July 1976 before reaching pension age. Subsequent to his leaving, preservation of pension benefits was introduced for teachers. Under this provision a person leaving service on or after 30 June 1977 but before pension age, may preserve his/her benefits and qualify for pension on application when s/he reaches age 60, or, in the case of a new entrant to the public service after 1 April 2004, age 65. On leaving, on or after 30 June 1977, a person had to have completed at least five years of pensionable service to avail of preservation. For persons leaving from 2 June 2002 that threshold has been reduced to two years pensionable service.

Since the person in question had left service before 30 June 1977 he cannot benefit from preservation. If, subsequent to July 1976 the person in question took up pensionable employment in a public sector organisation he should provide the details to the Pensions Section of my department which will examine whether it might be possible to transfer his pensionable teaching service to that organisation.