Written answers

Tuesday, 19 November 2019

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Pensions

Photo of James BrowneJames Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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109. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding a pension increase for former Defence Forces personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47769/19]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The position is that the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) 2018-2020 sets out the policy on public service pension increases as adopted by Government for the duration of that agreement to end-2020.

The policy provides that qualifying public service pensions will, in general (depending on retirement date and pre retirement pensionable salary payable), be increased on foot of the basic pay increases due under the terms of the PSSA.

I can confirm that, in general, the benefit of the PSSA basic pay increases up to and including 1 September 2019 (1.75%) is now reflected in the military service pensions of relevant qualifying retirees and their dependants. This scenario also applies to former members of the Permanent Defence Force who are in receipt of disability pensions under the Army Pensions Acts, including those amongst them whose disability pensions are in respect of post-traumatic stress disorder.

There is an ongoing administrative exercise over the course of the PSSA to review and adjust public service pension rates in line with current policy. The next scheduled pay increase for public servants, including the Defence Forces, is 0.50% from 1 January 2020 (for those on basic pay of less than €32,000 a year) and 2% from 1 October 2020. In that context, military pension rates will continue to be monitored and reviewed by my Department as each pay increase is being implemented, in line with the pension increase policy.

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