Written answers
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Department of Justice, Equality and Defence
Pension Provisions
9:00 pm
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 183: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the grades within the public and civil service entitled to receive a special severance gratuity payment on retirement; the number of public and civil servants that will be eligible for the special severance gratuity payment on retirement; the way the special severance gratuity payment calculated for each eligible grade; the saving to the State if it did not make the special severance gratuity payment for each grade from this date onwards; and if he will supply this data in a tabular form to include each grade accompanied by the saving. [26010/11]
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context
The grades in the Civil/Public Service which may potentially attract a severance (or severance type) payment at termination, subject to certain conditions, are as follows:
| Secretaries General | The lesser of:- (a) 6 months' salary, or(b) potential salary to age 65. |
| County Managers | The lesser of:- (a) 6 months' salary, or(b) potential salary to age 65. |
| Ministerial Personal Staff | The greater of:- (a) 2 months' salary, or(b) 4 weeks' salary per year of service (plus one third capped at 28 weeks, where applicable). |
| Oireachtas Secretarial Assistants | 4 weeks' salary per year of service (plus one third capped at 28 weeks, where applicable). |
| CEOs of non-commercial State Bodies | Where pension is not payable immediately -(a) 4 weeks' salary per year of continuous service to a maximum of 26 weeks' salary; or (b) where pension becomes payable within 26 weeks of cessation of employment, the amount of salary which would have been payable between the date of retirement and commencement of pension. |
| Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas | Termination Allowances of:- (a) a lump sum of2 months' salary, plus (b) a monthly payment, to a maximum of 12 payments depending on service, at the rate of 75% of salary for the first 6 months and 50% of salary for the remaining months. Allowance and pension cannot be paid simultaneously. |
| Officeholders(i.e. Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Minister, Attorney General, Minister of State, Ceann Comhairle, Leas Cheann Comhairle, Cathaoirleach, Leas Chathaoirleach, Leader of Seanad Éireann) | On leaving Office - a monthly payment, to a maximum of 24 payments depending on service, at the rate of 75% of salary for the first 6 months; 50% of salary for the next 12 months and 25% of salary for the remaining months. Severance and pension cannot be paid simultaneously. |
Given the extent of the variables which determine entitlement to severance/severance type payments in each individual category and case, e.g. service to date, age at date of departure, potential service to age 65, appointment to another position in the Civil/Public Service, etc., it is not possible to quantify the savings to the State if no such payments were made in the future.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 184: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the grades within the public and civil service entitled to benefit from added years enabling the latter to retire before the standard pension entitlement age with full pension benefits; the number of public and civil servants that will be eligible to benefit from added years; if he will give details of the saving to the State if it did not grant added years for each grade from this date onwards; and if he will supply this data in a tabular form to include each grade accompanied by the saving. [26011/11]
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context
The only added years awarded in the Civil and Public Service to persons before reaching the standard pension age are to Secretaries General, County Managers, CEOs of non-commercial State Bodies and to staff in any grade who retire or are retired on health grounds before normal retirement age. There are no added years' arrangements which enable a person to retire on maximum superannuation benefits automatically before the standard pension age as suggested, as added years do not necessarily confer full pension benefits. In the cases mentioned above, the amount of pension payable is based on service already accrued plus the added years. It is not possible to state how many staff will be eligible to benefit from added years in the future, as that will depend on each individual's circumstances at retirement. If, for example, a Secretary General or CEO is re-appointed to another public service post, has reached maximum retirement age or voluntarily leaves the post before the end of his or her contract, added years are not normally awarded. It is also not possible to predict how many staff will retire on health grounds in the future.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 185: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the saving to the State if all existing public and civil service pension payments were capped at €35,930 per year. [26023/11]
Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context
It is estimated that the imposition of a cap on pensions in the civil service, based on January 2011 data, would have resulted in an estimated saving of €43m if pensions were capped at €35,930. This takes no account of the tax and other statutory deductions foregone. Comparable data are not available for the public service as a whole.
No comments