Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 412: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a pension payment will be finalised for an individual (details supplied) who worked for 42 years in primary teaching; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30478/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person in question worked intermittently in primary teaching in an unqualified capacity as a substitute and in a temporary capacity over many years. The service prior to September 2001 was not pensionable when given. On foot of recent changes in the superannuation provisions that service may be reckoned now for pension purposes subject to certain thresholds, terms and conditions.

One of the conditions is that the service in question is verified. Generally, verification is required for periods during which the person was employed by schools but was not paid salary directly by my Department. In the first instance verification should be obtained by the person from the school or schools in which the service was given. If there are valid reasons that such verification cannot be obtained, then the written confirmation, of the approximate periods involved, provided by a former colleague or by the teacher who the person was replacing will be acceptable. Where all of the aforementioned methods of verification prove impossible, my Department will accept a sworn affidavit from the person which sets out to the best of his/her recollection the periods of service.

My department has paid a pension, earlier this year, to the person in question in respect of verified service. The person was advised by letter in May 2010 that additional periods of employment in schools (for which salary was not paid directly by my Department), would be considered for pension purposes on receipt of an affidavit. In this case, in assessing what further service can be reckoned for pension purposes, my Department will be prepared to consider the PRSI record in conjunction with an affidavit, if received, confirming that employment was in primary schools.