Ciarán Ahern
Question:264. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Defence the options available to a person (details supplied) in a pensions matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16637/26]
View answerTuesday, 3 March 2026
Questions (264)
Written answers
Under the terms of the Defence Forces’ Pensions Schemes, the minimum service for enlisted personnel who joined prior to 1 April 2004 to qualify for a pension is 21 years, or 12 years if discharged on medical grounds.
Service in an Forsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCA), even if full-time, is not reckonable for pension purposes.
Unfortunately, as the person in question did not have the necessary service, I regret that he was not eligible for a pension under the Schemes.
The Defence Forces pre-2004 pension scheme is a fast accrual scheme offering accelerated pension benefits and the possibility of earlier retirement than standard accrual schemes. This was in recognition of the fact that Defence Forces members often had shorter career paths and earlier mandatory retirement ages. The fast accrual allows members to build up their pensions more quickly to compensate for their generally shorter service periods. The Defence Forces scheme was designed taking the specific and unique requirements of the Defence Forces into account, and to maintain an effective and agile force with the appropriate age profile.
In 2000, the Commission on Public Service Pensions examined DF pension terms and recommended a new scheme be designed for new entrants that was more in line with standard public service schemes but that, having regard to the advantageous nature of the existing Defence Forces pension schemes, no fundamental modifications to the pension terms of serving personnel should be made. The Government accepted the Commission’s recommendations.
Changes to military pension scheme terms and conditions cannot be made by my Department in isolation and would be subject to consultation with, and the approval of, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
The staff of the Defence Forces Personnel Support Services (PSS) offer signposting and advice to veterans. This usually takes the form of guiding veterans to the appropriate resources and services within the community, however other support is provided to veterans on a case-by-case basis. There is a PSS officer located in each barracks and if he wishes the person in question can make contact with his nearest Barracks.
The PSS interacts with the recognised Veterans’ Associations such as the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE) to support personnel after they leave the Defence Forces, and has a relationship with the staff of the Veterans Support Centres, which are located in various locations throughout the DF and are manned by ONE staff. The PSS can also facilitate applications for support from the Defence Forces Benevolent Fund.
ONE operates a network of Veterans Support Centres around the country which provide advice and support to retired members of the Defence Forces. ONE can be contacted by email at info@oneconnect.ie, or more information and contact details are available on their website www.one-veterans.org.
The Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) also operate drop-in centres where veterans can seek advice and support. IUNVA can be contacted by email at iunvahqd7@gmail.com, and more information and contact details are available on their website www.iunva.ie.