Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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113. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a decision on pension abatement for those in the Defence Forces to allow those that have been offered roles elsewhere to avail of them. [5125/20]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to a similar question asked in November 2019 (PQ Ref 48005/19) which was asked by his colleague, Deputy Michael McGrath.

Sections 52(1) to 52(5) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 provide for the abatement of a public service pension where a retired public servant, whose pension is in payment, is re-employed in the public service such that no more of the pension when combined with the remuneration in the new job shall exceed the pensionable remuneration of the old job. It is the pension that is reduced and not the salary in the new job.

Abatement is an important component of public service pension policy and addresses legitimate public concerns about the simultaneous payment of both a valuable pension as well as a salary in the public service. The principle of abatement of a public service pension has also long been in existence within the rules of various public service pension schemes.

Finally, the application of abatement does not prevent a retired public servant from taking up other paid employment in the public service post retirement. Generally, decisions taken by individuals to take up new public service positions after retirement are, of course, voluntary in nature.