Written answers
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Public Sector Pensions
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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364. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform whether he proposes to make any changes to the public sector’s pensions scheme that prevents the payment of a spousal pension where the surviving person marries again or cohabits with a new partner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46267/24]
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform has overall policy responsibility in relation to public service occupational pension schemes, including those relating to the Spouses' and Children's Pension Scheme (where the terms ‘spouse’ also relates to those in a civil partnership) and for the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, which makes provision for survivor benefits within the main scheme itself. Specific sectoral pension schemes in the wider public service are generally a matter for the Minister of the parent Department for the body concerned.
While various schemes and provisions apply across the public service, these provisions generally disallow ongoing payment of a spousal pension in situations where the spouse of the member subsequently remarries or cohabits with a new partner.
As set out in S.I. No. 132/1977 - Civil Service Widows' and Children's Contributory Pension Scheme 1977 and the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in the event that a payment has ceased on the grounds of remarriage or cohabitation it is possible to grant or regrant, as may be appropriate, the pension on compassionate grounds from a date not earlier than the date on which the relevant application is received by the Minister.
At this time no decision has been taken to change the existing terms of the public service Spouses' and Children's Pension Scheme or provisions for survivor benefits.
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