Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Finance the implications for serving and retired public servants, under the aegis of his Department, of the single euro payments area payments clearing and settlement system being closed on 1 May 2015; if arrangements are being made to ensure that persons receive their entitlements on the due date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17193/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Interbank Business Banking days, or TARGET Days, are set by the European Central Bank. Annually, the 1st of May is specified as a non-TARGET day and the scheduling of certain transactions must be amended to ensure their timely completion. This issue has potential implications for serving and retired staff who are due payments on that date.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, under the newly established Payroll Shared Services Centre (PSSC) has responsibility for the payment of salaries to serving public servants in a range of public service bodies, including the Department of Finance. I am assured that the PSSC has put arrangements in place to ensure that employees served by the PSSC, who are due to receive salary payments on 1 May will receive those payments on 30 April. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that they also have arrangements in place to ensure that serving staff due to receive salary payments on the 1st of May will receive these payments on Thursday 30 April. Similar arrangements are also in place in relation to staff of the Appeal Commissioners.

Pension payments to retired civil servants are processed by the Paymaster General, on an agency basis for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As the 1st of May is not a payment day in relation to such payments, they will not be impacted by the closure of the SEPA clearing and settlement system on that date.

I have been advised that, with the exception of the Financial Services Ombudsman, there are no implications for serving or retired staff of other public service bodies under the aegis of my Department arising from the closure of the Single Euro Payments Area payments clearing and settlement system on 1 May 2015. I am advised by the Financial Services Ombudsman that arrangements have been made to ensure that entitlements are received on the due date.