Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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242. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason retired prison officers who are in receipt of a State pension did not receive the 2% rise in payments that other sectors of the public service received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55325/21]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to pensions payable to retired prison officers under the civil service (occupational) pension scheme rather than the State Pension payable by the Department of Social Protection.

Under the current pension increase policy for the pre-existing public service pension schemes, qualifying pensions fall to be increased in line with a general round increase in annualised basic salary of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, granted to serving public servants on 1 October 2021.

My Department issued a circular on 1 October authorising pension administrators to pay the increase to qualifying pensions. In the case of the civil service pension scheme, I have been advised by the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) that due to a technical issue within the pension payroll system, there has been a delay in processing cases. I understand that this is now being addressed as a matter of urgency by the system provider and that the 1 October increases will be applied over the coming period, with arrears paid as appropriate.