Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister has asked me to respond your query in relation to the Supplementary Pension and Class A employees.

Supplementary pension is a payment which may be made by a public service employer, in certain circumstances, to a retiree who paid Class A PRSI when employed and whose occupational pension is coordinated with the State Pension Contributory (SPC).

Supplementary pension is provided for in civil and public service pension schemes. It is one aspect of integrated pensions which arises when a bridging payment is required to provide an individual’s overall public service pension entitlement because the individual might experience a shortfall in benefit. However, these payments are not automatic and are subject to rules, the most relevant of which is that the individual is unemployed.

This is a condition for receipt of supplementary pension because, as a former Class A contributor, the individual may be entitled to certain benefits payable by the Department of Social Protection.

It is appreciated that there are concerns surrounding staffing issues in nursing areas and the issue of the cessation of supplementary pension has been raised.

The Minister wishes to assure the Deputy that the Department of Health is currently making enquiries on this matter.