Written answers

Thursday, 17 January 2019

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Pensions

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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45. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the pension entitlement of a member of the Defence Forces that has completed 31 years service and who has reached 66 years of age; if a person in such a scenario has an entitlement to a State pension (contributory) or a State pension (non-contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2110/19]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The specific occupational pension scheme terms of members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) depend on various factors, including the date a person first joins the public service.

The Deputy has referred to a member who has completed thirty one years' service and reached the age of 66. I take it therefore that the Deputy's query may be in relation to an enlisted member who joined prior to 2004, rather than to a commissioned officer. I propose to answer on this basis.

The military superannuation arrangements of enlisted personnel in the PDF fall into the following three distinct categories, the terms of which are quite different from each other:

- Joined the PDF before April 2004;

- Joined on or after 1 April 2004 and before 1 January 2013; and

- Joining from 1 January 2013.

For an enlisted member who joined the PDF prior to April 2004, the pension entitlement is based on the rank and pensionable service of the member at the date of discharge and would include any eligible pensionable allowances. A person’s date of enlistment in the PDF, as well as their technician category, if applicable, and other specified criteria, are factors in determining their potential compulsory retirement age or, where applicable, upper service limits. These, in turn, influence the overall length of a person’s military career in terms of the calculation of their retirement benefits.

The question of whether a person has an entitlement to a State pension (contributory) or a State pension (non-contributory) is a matter for the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and I cannot make a statement in this regard. However, I can advise that the age of eligibility for this pension varies depending on a person’s date of birth.

I can also advise that the terms of the Defence Forces Pensions Scheme provide for the military occupational pension to be reduced if and when an enlisted member reaches the age prescribed for a contributory old age pension, or becomes otherwise entitled to a retirement pension under the Social Welfare Acts.

It is not possible to be prescriptive about the potential retirement benefits for a member of the PDF without more specific information. If the Deputy's enquiries relate to a specific member of the PDF, and he provides me with the relevant details for that member, I will arrange for my Department to reply directly to the person concerned.

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