Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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276. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is any provision for an ex section 38 staff member to bring their grade and pension with them when taking up a post in a Government department (details supplied). [43225/24]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Appointments to the civil service through open competition are made subject to the advertised terms of the competition. In general, the terms allow that different conditions may apply to currently serving civil/public servants.

There are policies in place which allow currently serving civil/public servants to start above the minimum subject to certain conditions. Examples of such policies include, inter alia;

- Incremental Credit, as provided for through Circular 21/2004 and Circular 40/2007; and

- Appointment to Analogous Grades, as provided for through Circular 08/2019.

It is a matter for the employing department to determine the policies that apply to any particular appointment.

Similarly, with regard to pension arrangements, an individual appointed to a pensionable public service position will be offered the appropriate pension terms and conditions as applying in the civil service at the time of appointment, based on their public service employment history.

The terms of their pension scheme will determine the transfer arrangements that may apply with regard to previously accrued pension benefits. Transfer arrangements in most pre-existing (pre-2013) public service pension schemes are governed by the terms of the transfer scheme and associated Public Sector Transfer Network (PSTN). Certain eligibility criteria apply to this, including for example, that both the earlier and current employing bodies must participate in the PSTN and that there is no pension in payment in respect of the earlier service.

Transfer arrangements in the Single Scheme are governed by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 and are set out in Circular 15/2019. It is not possible to transfer service accrued under a pre-existing public service pension scheme to the Single Scheme.

It is a matter for the individual’s employer/pension administrator to confirm whether her earlier pension benefits may be transferred under the terms of her current pension scheme.