Joe Neville
Ceist:74. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the progress to date in improving pension levels for members of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30992/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 12 June 2025
Ceisteanna (74)
Freagraí scríofa
Defence Forces superannuation arrangements differ in a number of key respects to the wider public service. Distinct features include lower mandatory retirement ages or upper service limits, earlier ages with entitlement to immediate pension benefit, and atypical faster rates of benefit accrual. These all serve to support military manpower policy and operational requirements
The military pension arrangements flow from the State’s need to support the long-term sustainability of public service pensions into the future, while at the same time continuing to provide valuable pension benefits for its employees.
The specific occupational pension scheme terms of members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) – will depend on factors such as the date a person first joins the public service – fall mainly into the following three distinct fast accrual categories:
• Those who joined the PDF before April 2004;
• Those who joined on or after 1st April 2004 and before 1st January 2013; and
• Those who join on or after 1st January 2013 as members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.
Improvements in pension levels generally arise as a consequence of improvements or amendments to pay, or allowances in the nature of pay.
Some recent improvements to pension levels for the Defence Forces include:
• Implementation of recent increases in mandatory retirement age which means that earnings are now pensionable for a longer period, to a higher mandatory retirement age.
• Pay parity policy has been maintained. This means that the benefit of pay increases awarded under the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026 is passed on to military pensions, as appropriate, in accordance with established methodology.
Military occupational pension (superannuation) schemes operate within the broader context and framework of public service pension policy, as determined by Government. The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery, and Reform has responsibility for public service pension policy. Amendments or improvements to Defence Forces pensions schemes or pension levels, in particular any changes in relation to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (fast accrual for the uniformed branches) can only be made by consultation with, and subject to the approval of, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery, and Reform.
The military occupational pension schemes, in the round, compare very favourably to the generality of pension arrangements applicable across our public service.