Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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296. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a person can transfer their three years with the OPW to a local authority for pension purposes, State Pension Contributory (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35742/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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From the details supplied by the Deputy, it would appear that the individual concerned was initially employed by a public service body in the 1970s, before leaving that employment. The individual re-entered public service employment in 2018.

The Single Public Service Pension 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. Public service pension schemes established prior to the enactment of the Single Scheme Act are generally referred to as “pre-existing schemes”.

The provisions of the Single Scheme are clearly set out in law. All public servants hired after 1 January 2013 are members of the Single Scheme. The most common exception to this is where, on or after 1 January 2013, a pensionable public servant who is not a Single Scheme member ceases public service employment and subsequently takes up a public service post no later than 26 weeks after ceasing the earlier employment.

With regard to the individual to which the Deputy refers, placement in the Single Public Service Pension Scheme would appear to have been appropriate, as the gap between their previous public service employment and his current one exceeded 26 weeks.

As the Deputy has not provided information as to which pre-existing scheme the individual previously belonged to, it is not possible to provide specific information with regard to their entitlements under that scheme, should any entitlements exist. In the first instance, the individual should contact their previous employer with regard to whether they hold an entitlement to a preserved pension in respect of their previous employment. While civil service pension schemes at that time required members to remain in employment for a vesting period of 5 years to qualify for preserved pension benefits, the individual will need to engage with their previous employer regarding the rules of the specific pension scheme they had joined at that time.

Regardless of the specifics of any pension entitlement that may or may not exist, it should be noted that the transfer of retirement benefits accrued under pre-existing public service pension schemes is not permitted under the transfer facility established for the Single Scheme.

It is possible for individuals to transfer funds from a Revenue-approved pension fund towards their Single Scheme pension entitlements, by engaging with their current employer. To be eligible for this, Single Scheme members must have the capacity to complete a 24-month vesting period prior to reaching their Normal Retirement Age.