Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
293. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to outline the rules regarding the single pension scheme; the reason researchers in technological universities are prevented from accessing the scheme; whether their equivalents in universities can access the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51819/26]
View answerThe 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.
The provisions of the Single Scheme are clearly set out in law. All pensionable public servants hired after 1 January 2013 are members of the Single Scheme. There are a limited number of exemptions to Single Scheme membership set out in the 2012 Act, such as where a member of a pre-existing public service pension scheme leaves such a role and returns to a pensionable public service role within 26 weeks, giving them a right to remain in a pre-existing public service pension scheme. There is no provision in the legislation to allow an eligible employee not to be a member of the Single Scheme.
To be eligible for membership of the Single Scheme, the employee must be a public servant in a public service body and the position must be a pensionable position. Where an individual is appointed to a non-pensionable position and/or where the individual is not a public servant, they will not be members of the Single Scheme.
The pensionable status of this cohort is a matter, in the first instance, for the Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
