Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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357. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if adjustments can be made for retired teachers in order that they are not penalised in their pension for working more than 50 days as part of a strategy to deal with teacher shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23176/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Pension abatement is a feature of public service pension schemes and is provided for in the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme & Other Provisions) Act 2012. In general pension abatement applies when a public service pensioner such as a retired teacher is re-appointed to a post in the public service. Abatement ensures that the pension(s) which the public service pensioner receives, when combined with the new/current remuneration, does not exceed the relevant former pensionable remuneration the retiree would have received had they continued to serve in their relevant former pensionable position. Abatement applies to the public service pension i.e. not to salary.

As an exceptional measure and in an effort to alleviate teacher supply difficulties, my Department, in accordance with the provisions of Article 52 (4) of the above mentioned Act, applied to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for a waiver of abatement for retired teachers. The waiver of abatement was approved for a limited period of 3 years for appropriately qualified teachers who:

- are employed in the capacity for which they are qualified;

- are suitable for employment in all respects and;

- in circumstances where it is not practicable to meet the teaching requirements other than by the employment of a retired teacher.

The abatement waiver applies to the first 50 days worked in each of the calendar years 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Deputy should note in the 2022 calendar year, of the cohort of teachers who returned to teach and worked in excess of 50 days just 1.5%(25 teachers) fell to have their pension abated.

My Department is cognisant that the current waiver of abatement will expire at the end of 2023 and will review the operation of the waiver in light of teacher supply and engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform as appropriate.