Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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756. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding pension entitlements in respect of retained fire fighters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13882/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Retained firefighters are part-time firefighters who are paid an annual retainer by the relevant local authority and are then paid an hourly rate for call-outs/training. Many retained firefighters have other full time or part time employment. In 2008, retained fire-fighters were given the option of joining the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS) and receiving a pension and retirement lump sum based on their pensionable remuneration and length of service. Retained fire-fighters who opted not to join the scheme receive, on retirement, a gratuity of 1/8 th of the annual retainer multiplied by the number of years of actual service (up to a maximum of four times the annual retainer). All full time and retained fire-fighters appointed after 1 January 2013 must join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.