Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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599. To ask the Minister for Health if a final decision has yet been made about the possibility of transfer of former members of the CRC pension plan to the SPSPS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22132/16]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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600. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE has completed its consideration of the business case in regard to the CRC pension plan submitted by CRC management; the steps the HSE will take to ensure a just and satisfactory resolution to the controversy for staff members. [22133/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 600 together.

In relation to the 44 employees of the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) who were members of a funded DB scheme, I am aware that the HSE is currently examining a submission which has been provided by the CRC. The Department is awaiting receipt of the HSE's evaluation of the CRC submission and their recommendation on how to address the pension issues with the CRC.

On receipt of this evaluation, my Department will, in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, urgently examine the HSE recommendation in the context of current policy and legislation in relation to superannuation.

By way of background, I would like to clarify that employment in a public service body does not determine the type of pension scheme that is available to an individual employee. There are a variety of pension schemes that operate in the public service depending on when and how an individual enters the public service. In general, the majority of public servants are members of various public service ‘pay as you go’ Defined Benefit (DB) schemes which may have different minimum pension age, accrual terms, contribution rates etc. In addition, some employees of Section 38 agencies are members of funded Defined Benefit pension schemes which are administered by scheme trustees while others are members of Defined Contribution (DC) schemes. New entrants to the public service recruited on or after 1 January 2013 are generally members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (SPSPS) and have career average pension benefits.