Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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102. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when personal superannuation fund statements for 2015 and 2016, as provided for under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, are required to be issued to gardaí recruited since 2012; when they will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52431/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána.

The new Single Public Service Pension Scheme ("Single Scheme") commenced with effect from 1 January 2013. All new entrants to pensionable public service employment on or after 1 January 2013 are, in general members of the Single Scheme.

The Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 (Relevant Authorities) Regulations 2012 designates An Garda Síochána as the relevant authority for the purposes of the Single Scheme and I, as Minister, have no role in relation to the matter.

As part of this delegation the Commissioner is the trustee of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme and, as such, is responsible for meeting all legal requirements regarding same e.g. maintaining pension records for new staff, issuing pension statements on an annual basis and the actual payment of pensions and lump sums to both serving and non-serving employees.

I am informed that An Garda Síochána is participating in a Sectoral Focus Group regarding the Single Scheme. This group is part of a project led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to develop solutions to support compliance with all legal requirements on the part of trustees of this new Single Scheme. The group provides input on the direction of work being undertaken on the Single Scheme project, assesses impacts on their sectors and recommends approaches/engagement required.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform-led project entails, as part of the next phase, the building of a Single scheme Databank that will hold key data centrally.  This will be complemented by the Shared Services Centres and Human Resources areas which will continue to have a critical role in providing payroll and other information. The last phase of this project will involve designing the long-term solution so all relevant authorities including An Garda Síochána are compliant with all legal requirements as trustees of this new scheme.

I am advised that An Garda Síochána will issue Benefit Statements when the project as outlined above has progressed to roll out phase.