Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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468.To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a person who has served in the Defence Forces for less than 21 years and has taken a position within the public service can have their pension contributions transferred to the single pension scheme in their new position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31262/24]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In answering the Deputy's question, it is assumed that the scenario outlined applies to an individual who has retired or resigned from a role in the Defence Forces, in which they were a member of a pre-existing public service pension scheme, and who has now accepted another public service role, where membership of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme applies. It should be noted that, in this scenario, the gap between both employments should be 26 weeks or more for Single Scheme membership to apply in the person's new employment, as per Section 10 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. If the gap is less than this, the individual has a right to continue in a relevant pre-existing pension scheme.

The transfer of retirement benefits accrued under pre-existing public service pension schemes into the Single Scheme is not permitted. However, a person retains their right to preserved benefits in a pre-existing public service pension scheme, which should be made available to them at preserved pension age, subject to that scheme's rules and regulations. The individual would also continue to accrue Single Scheme benefits, which will be payable to them on their retirement.

Where a person is currently in receipt of a public service pension and subsequently accepts another salaried role in the public service, their pension payment may be subject to abatement by their employer, as per Section 52 of the Single Scheme Act. Upon subsequent retirement, the individual will receive payment of their pre-existing public service pension in full, in addition to payment of their Single Scheme entitlements from their most recent employment.

If the individual had been a member of the Single Scheme in the Defence Forces and subsequently attained another role in the public service, they would simply continue accruing benefits within the Single Scheme.