Departmental Reviews

Wednesday, 20 May 2026

Questions (104, 105, 106)

Emer Currie

Question:

104. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department has carried out any analysis or assessment of the difference in projected occupational pension incomes between members of An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, full-time fire service and the Permanent Defence Forces who commenced service before 1 January 2013 and comparable personnel who commenced on or after that date and are members of the single public service pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38005/26]

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Emer Currie

Question:

105. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will consider amending the public sector single pension scheme to recognise the particular position of workers in fast accrual professions; if he will facilitate access to a supplementary pension to bridge the potentially significant gap from retirement to the State pension age [38006/26]

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Emer Currie

Question:

106. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department has reviewed the impact of the public service single pension scheme on fast-accrual grades in the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service and the Fire Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38007/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 to 106, inclusive, together.

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

The provisions of the Single Scheme are clearly set out in law. All new-entrant public servants hired after 1 January 2013 are members of the Single Scheme. This includes uniformed members in An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, full-time Firefighters and Prison Officers.

The introduction of the Single Scheme is central to ensuring the long-term sustainability of public service pensions, particularly in the context of improved life expectancy and rising public service employee numbers. The most recent valuation of the State’s Accrued Liability in respect of public service retirement benefits calculates the overall liability to be €175.7bn, which is payable over the next 70 years or so. The annual pension bill for the public service is currently at €5.3bn; this is projected to increase to a peak of €9.8bn in 2055.

Despite the broader trend in the private sector towards closing defined benefit schemes, the Single Scheme remains a defined benefit pension arrangement, albeit based on career-average remuneration.

Uniformed members - Firefighters, Prison Officers, Gardaí and the Defence Forces - have enhanced benefits that other Single Scheme members do not have. These members accrue benefits at a faster rate due to their earlier Mandatory Retirement Age.

In 2024, in recognition of individuals seeking to work longer, Government enacted legislation to permit Uniformed staff to remain in service until age 62, should they wish to. This move allows members to build-up a higher pension than previously, increasing the final value of their Single Scheme pension. On retirement, subject to having reached their Normal Retirement Age, members receive their Single Scheme pension and lump sum immediately. The issue of mandatory retirement ages for the Defence Forces, Gardaí, Prison Service and Firefighters is firstly a matter for the relevant line Departments.

There are no plans at this time to review the Single Scheme, including the Fast Accrual elements. Occupational Supplementary Pensions (OSPs) are not a feature of the Single Scheme and were not envisaged to be.

Question No. 105 answered with Question No. 104.