David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 731: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of retired Defence Force personnel who are in receipt of an Army service pension who are not in receipt of the military service allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23782/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Arising from a recommendation made in 1990 by the Commission on Remuneration and Conditions of Service in the Defence Forces (the Gleeson Commission), Military Service Allowance (MSA) was made pensionable in the case of personnel retiring on or after 1 August 1990. This approach was fully consistent with settled public service pensions policy which provides that the benefit of an allowance being made pensionable for serving personnel does not extend to existing pensioners.In the Final Report of the Commission on Public Service Pensions, which was published in November 2000, the Commission specifically addressed the issue of the pensionability of allowances (including the MSA) and the consequences for public service pensioners generally. However, having considered the arguments advanced by the groups affected (such as military pensioners), together with long-standing public service pensions policy in that context and the substantial cost implications involved, the Commission did not recommend any increase for the pensioners concerned. The Report was considered and broadly accepted by Government. Aside from pre-August 1990 Defence Forces pensioners, the other groups affected include certain retired members of An Garda Síochána and the Prison Service and retired teachers. In the context of the Government's subsequent consideration of the Commission's Report, no change in existing policy on this matter has been authorised or is contemplated. At present, there are approximately 10,650 persons in receipt of military occupational pensions under the Defence Forces Pensions Schemes (including almost 1,600 spouses and children of deceased personnel). About 2,900 of these are pre-August 1990 military pensioners who do not qualify for the MSA in their pension. The direct cost to this Department of extending the benefit of MSA to them is currently estimated at €6.1 million a year. The position of these Defence Forces pensioners cannot be looked at in isolation of the wider public service. Any departure from established pensions policy for one group would give rise to significant cost repercussions in other areas of the public service. Accordingly, there is no scope for departing from settled public service pensions policy in the case of MSA.