Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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90. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who has spent over two years as a contracted clerical officer within a State agency was placed as a new entrant on the pay scale when they moved to another State body, despite their pension/PRD contributions being retained due to the length of their service; the reason for this discrepancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27538/14]

John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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92. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a public service employee (details supplied) in Dublin 11 was classed as a new entrant when beginning a new role in the public service in view of the fact that the employee had previously completed two years service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27654/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 92 together.

The Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 provides that a person who takes up employment in the civil or public service on or after 1 April 2004, or is re-appointed following a break of more than 26 weeks, is regarded as a new entrant. In general, new entrants to permanent positions within the civil or public service are automatically placed on the first point of their relevant pay scales regardless of previous service. However, officers appointed to the grade of Clerical Officer can be considered for incremental credits under the Department of Finance Circular 21/2004 which may award incremental credits in respect of previous service at entry level for Clerical Officer and Executive Officer grades. To qualify for this provision a Clerical Officers must have 3 or more years service in the grade. The person in question had less than 3 years service therefore, this provision did not apply to them.

The Pensions Authority has advised that the person in question was recruited by them as a Clerical Officer in May 2014. In accordance with advice received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform she was placed on the first point of the relevant payscale. The course of action taken is in line with standard practice in respect of all newly appointed people or those who are re-appointed having had a break in employment of 26 weeks or more.