Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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350. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is considering changes to the public service pension abatement for members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7921/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The principle of abatement is a longstanding feature of public service pension schemes and its application across all sectors of the public sector was provided for in the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 (the Single Scheme Act).

The Act provides for the abatement of a public service pension where a retired public servant, whose pension is in payment, is re-employed in the public service such that no more of the public service pension when combined with the remuneration in the new position shall exceed the pensionable remuneration of the old position. It should be noted that it is the pension which is abated and not the salary in the new position. The measure applies across the public service. Abatement can be waived in exceptional circumstances as set out in Section 52(4) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, and where a person returns to work in the private sector the public service pension is not subject to abatement.

Abatement policy is a key component of public service pension policy and addresses the issue of simultaneous payment of both public service pensions and public service salaries for those employed in the public service. While the high level operation of abatement is monitored on an ongoing basis, there are no current plans to change pension abatement policy.