Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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660. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if parental leave is included in service history (details suppled); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38286/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the Secondary, Community and Comprehensive Teachers Pension Scheme, at Section 7 (1) (ii) a person may retire under the 55/35 year rule under the following conditions:-

“55 years of age and has—

(I) not less than 35 years actual pensionable service,

(II) on or after 1 September 1996, not less than 34 years actual pensionable service where the member’s training before entry to teaching was of not less than 3 years’ duration but not more than 4 years’ duration, or

(III) On or after 1 September 1996, not less than 33 years actual pensionable service where the member’s training before entry to teaching was not less than 4 years’ duration.”

Circular 17/99, titled Parental Leave and Force Majeure Leave for Teachers in Second Level Schools, was active at the time the person to whom the Deputy refers to availed of Parental Leave. Circular 026/2013, titled Parental Leave Entitlements for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools replaced Circular 17/99.

The purpose of Parental Leave is to allow a teacher a period of unpaid leave to care for their child. A teacher on Parental Leave is deemed for all purposes to be in employment at that time with the exception of remuneration and superannuation.

I can confirm that Parental Leave is not included in the calculation of pensionable service for the purpose of the 55/35 year threshold.