Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has not received increases to their pension. [22237/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The person to whom the Deputy refers was awarded pension on retirement in 1996 by the then existing Vocational Education Committee. These functions are now the responsibility of the Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board (ETB) and the payment of pension is administered by the Payroll Shared Service Centre (PSSC). My Department has been informed by the ETB, that the person in question is not due an increase in pension under existing policy.

Public servants who were awarded a pension on retirement pre-March 2012 had their benefits based on the pay rates that applied prior to pay rates being reduced under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation.  The application of current policy means that these pensions do not qualify for increases while their associated basic salary is higher than the corresponding basic salary in payment (to serving personnel) at the respective increase dates over the period 2018-2020.

With regard to Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) which was first introduced in 2011 as part of the financial emergency measures, from January 2019 pensions of pre-2012 retirees of a gross annual value up to €39,000 are no longer subject to PSPR.  In relation to the person in question I understand a reduction in the PSPR rates will shortly be applied to the pension in payment and back dated to 1 January 2019.  Should the person have any further queries on this matter he should contact the PSSC at 076 1002702 or .