Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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388. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter affecting pension payments (details supplied). [23119/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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A Revised Spouses’ and Children’s Pension Scheme was introduced in the civil service in 1984. The scheme is compulsory for all persons appointed to established positions in the civil service on or after 1 September 1984 as per Circular 16/1984.

Circular 16/1984 Paragraph 3 states;

Arising from the additional benefits being provided under the new scheme, the contribution conditions governing that scheme will differ from those applicable to the existing scheme, in that the provisions for refund of periodic contributions will be more restrictive. Specifically, the provisions in the existing scheme for (a) full refund of periodic contributions to members who remain unmarried throughout their contributing membership and (b) partial refund of periodic contributions to certain members whose spouses are deceased at the time they retire or resign, will not apply. Under the new scheme, the only circumstances in which any refund of periodic contributions would be due is where a member retires or resigns without entitlement to pension or to preserved pension and does not transfer his/her service to another employment or where a member pays periodic contributions for a period in excess of 40 years.

Under the new scheme in 1984, refunds of periodic contributions are more limited than in previous arrangements. The scheme rules and conditions as accepted upon entry of employment, must apply throughout the duration of employment.