Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason no pension benefit has been awarded by NUI Galway to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51142/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The person to whom the Deputy refers was an employee of the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) from March 1972 to April 1980 and during this period was a member of the University’s superannuation scheme.

Each University is responsible for the administration of the pension schemes in operation for their employees and NUIG has clarified the position with to pension benefits of the person concerned.

The University Pension Scheme in question did not provide for the payment of preserved benefits and therefore the person referred to by the Deputy has no entitlement to pension benefits from the scheme as he ceased employment with the University before normal retirement age.

The Pensions Act (1990) introduced provision for the payment of preserved benefits from the date of the legislation but did not make such provision retrospective.

The Deputy will be aware that rules of a pension scheme set in statute cannot be departed from in individual cases.

The person concerned should contact the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection with regard to his entitlement to a state pension.