Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

388. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if payments under the 1984 Civil Service spouses' and children's superannuation scheme are compulsory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27871/17]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

389. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are exemptions under the 1984 Civil Service spouses' and children's superannuation scheme depending on marital status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27872/17]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

390. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are exemptions under the 1984 Civil Service spouses' and children's superannuation scheme depending on parental status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27873/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 to 390, inclusive, together.

The Revised Spouses and Childrens Superannuation Scheme was introduced in 1984. Membership of this scheme is mandatory for anybody who joined the civil service as a new entrant after 1 September 1984. Civil Servants who were not members of any scheme or were members of the Original Scheme prior to this date had the option to join if they so wished.

The Revised Scheme which was introduced in agreement with staff interests, extended the benefits payable to include post-retirement marriages and also extended the children's benefit to include adoptive, post-retirement/resignation and non-marital children of the member. 

Member contributions are compulsory under the Revised Scheme and there are no exemptions available based on marital or parental status.  The Original Scheme provided for a refund of contributions where a member retired unmarried but as the Revised Scheme covers post-retirement events, no such refund is now available. In certain circumstances where a member has in excess of 40 years' service, they are entitled to a refund in respect of the excess period only, starting with the initial contributions paid.