Written answers
Thursday, 14 July 2022
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Pension Provisions
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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320. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff who are abated under his Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form. [38957/22]
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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This Department would not have the information readily to hand about the number of staff to whom abatement has been applied. We can follow up with the deputy’s office to confirm the information required and revert directly to the Deputy.
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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321. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of exemptions from pension abatement applied for and issued across all Departments under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012; the number of appeals to decisions made regarding pension abatement per Department and their outcome; and the annual full year revenue collected under the pension abatement arrangements. [38962/22]
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has asked about the number of exemptions from pension abatement applied for and issued across all Departments under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 (“the 2012 Act”). This Department can provide information about the waivers sought and granted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) in accordance with the 2012 Act. DPER has received a total of 27 applications in respect of individuals over the period, May 2016 to date (date at which collection of aggregate information commenced). In this regard, a total of 10 individual waivers of abatement have been granted.
During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary waivers were granted to front-line health sector staff to meet the specific demands arising from COVID-19. The Department of Health would have statistics in relation to any waivers granted in respect of COVID-19. Separately the Department of Education has operated temporary waivers under sanction from DPER. The Department of Education would have statistics in relation to any individual waivers granted.
To date, this Department has not received any appeals in respect of a determination issued by DPER not to grant a waiver. Information in relation to the annual full year revenue collected under the pension abatement arrangements is not available, individual Pension Paying Authorities would have records of the amount of money saved through the application of abatement.
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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322. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of legal challenges to date per Department to pension abatement under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form. [38963/22]
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There have been no legal challenges to date in respect of the application of Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 in which the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has been a respondent.
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