John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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439. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if firefighters, particularly those who may have had an illness, will lose out on their entitlement to full pension (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28788/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018-2023 confirms Government’s position that the State pension will be reformed and will remain as the fundamental basis of the pension system in Ireland. To do this, the Government will introduce from 2020 a ‘Total Contributions Approach’ (TCA) to the calculation of the State Pension (Contributory). The TCA is a more logical and transparent system, where the individual’s lifetime contribution will more closely match the benefit received.

Earlier this year, I launched a consultation on the design of the TCA to which a wide variety of stakeholder groups were invited and shortly afterwards the Oireachtas members were invited to a detailed briefing by my officials in Leinster House.

Having carefully examined the outputs and the views submitted in the consultation. I intend to bring a proposal to Government shortly, setting out the details of the scheme which my Department is currently designing. When the Government has agreed the approach to be taken, I will initiate the work required to introduce this reform.

The members of the Fire Service are entitled to an occupational pension which is a separate entitlement from the qualification of the State pension. The management of this occupational pension is a matter for the Fire Services at local authority level, with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.