Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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71. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will review the fast accrual (uniformed) single public service pension scheme for members recruited post-2013 in An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, Fire Service and Prison Service, in light of the fact that the scheme does not include a supplementary pension to bridge the gap between early retirement and the State pension age, as was the case under previous schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17774/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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72. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated financial gap in annual pension income for fast accrual pension scheme members between the age of 55 and the State pension age; the Department’s response to concerns that this gap is forcing members into post-retirement work despite health issues arising from their service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17775/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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73. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has assessed the impact of the current pension arrangements for post-2013 uniformed public service recruits on long-term recruitment and retention within An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, the Fire Service and the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17776/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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74. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has engaged with trade unions or staff associations representing Gardaí, firefighters, prison officers, and Defence Forces members regarding the restoration or introduction of a supplementary pension benefit for fast accrual pension scheme members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17777/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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75. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will clarify the Government’s position on a supplementary pension benefit for uniformed public servants, in light of previous commitments in 2019 by a Government Minister that post-2013 entrants would not be left worse off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17778/25]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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76. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether the current fast accrual pension scheme adequately reflects the acknowledged shorter healthy working lifespan of uniformed public servants; and if he will consider reforms to ensure pension equity for those required to retire before State pension age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17779/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 and 76 together.

The Single Scheme is a statutory Public Service Career-Average Defined Benefit Pension Scheme. It was established on 1 January 2013 under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

The provisions of the Single Scheme are clearly set out in law and were enacted on 28 July 2012. All new-entrant public servants hired after 1 January 2013 are members of the Single Scheme. The introduction of the Single Scheme is the biggest change to public service pensions since the formation of the State, and has been instrumental in ensuring the sustainability of the Public Service pension bill for decades to come, particularly in the context of rising public service employee numbers.

As the Single Scheme uses a career averaging model, a member's retirement benefits are based on a percentage of their pensionable earnings throughout their public service career as a member of the Scheme. For each pay period that a person contributes to the Scheme, they build up an amount towards their retirement benefits. The total of these amounts at retirement, with adjustments for increases in inflation for the amounts earned earlier in a person's career, determines what a person's final retirement benefits will be. This is payable in addition to any Social Welfare pension entitlements a person may have.

Uniformed staff such as firefighters, Prison Officers, members of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces, have enhanced benefits that other members of the Single Scheme do not have. Uniformed staff can accrue more Single Scheme benefits over their expected shorter public service careers in recognition of their earlier retirement age.

When uniformed staff reach normal retirement age, they can retire at that age and receive their retirement lump-sum and the commencement of their occupational pension benefit payments. As Single Scheme pension benefits are integrated with the State Pension (Contributory), these benefits are separate and additional to any entitlement that they may have to the State Pension (Contributory) paid by the Department of Social Protection at State Pension age. It should be noted that as the normal retirement age of fast accrual members of the Single Scheme is lower than that of standard accrual members, it is not defined as “early retirement”.

In 2024, Government enacted Part 11 of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024. This legislation allowed for an increase in the mandatory retirement age for uniformed staff to 62 years of age, for those who may choose to avail of it. This legislative change also allows uniformed members of the Single Scheme to accrue additional referable amounts towards their occupational pension for the additional years worked, increasing the final value of their Single Scheme pension. This had not been possible previously.

A Supplementary Pension has never been a feature of the Single Scheme, nor was it ever envisaged that it would be. As the State pension age now stands at 66, it is anticipated that most people will have longer active working lives, with the social welfare system continuing to provide a safety net for those who, for health or other reasons, are not in a position to work longer. No commitment has been made by Government in relation to supplementary pensions for Single Scheme fast accrual members.

The estimated financial gap in annual pension income for a fast accrual pension scheme member would depend on that person’s entitlement under the State Pension (Contributory), based on the PRSI contributions made over their career, and the rate of the State Pension at that time. In 2024, that pension payment for a person with full PRSI contributions paid would come to a total of €14,916.85 for that year, and is likely to change year on year. The rate of contributions made in a person’s occupational pension and their final retirement age would also impact on the calculation of any estimated financial gap. My Department has not engaged with representatives of the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, fire brigades, or prison officers on issues relating to Fast Accrual (uniformed) members of the Single Scheme. Recruitment and retention issues are a matter for the relevant line Departments.

There are no plans at this time to review the Single Scheme.