James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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7. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a person (details supplied) holds an entitlement to a FCA pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4108/20]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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In general, service in an Forsa Cosanta Áitiúil, even if full-time, is not reckonable for pension purposes.

Exceptionally, there is provision for the reckoning of service on full-time security duties in an Forsa Cosanta Áitiúil but only in certain limited circumstances.

Based on records held, I regret to advise that the service of the person in question is not eligible under these limited provisions and is therefore not reckonable for pension purposes. Accordingly, there is no pension entitlement.

The Army Reserve (previously known as An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil) and the Naval Service Reserve are the component parts of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). It is essentially a part-time force in which service is given on an entirely voluntary basis. Service in the RDF is therefore fundamentally different in nature from service and employment in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), in particular as regards the respective terms and conditions of service involved. Thus, the concept of pensionability which applies to service in the PDF would be inappropriate in relation to the RDF. This policy position is of longstanding and there are no proposals to change it.