Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
281. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 412 of 4 February 2026, the actual number of ex-Army personnel subject to abatement at this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15209/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in the reply to Question 412 of 4 February 2026, the abatement of public service pensions is generally provided for under Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012.
The principle of abatement applies across all of the public service, including the Defence Forces. It does not apply in relation to employment with commercial state bodies or where public service pensioners are employed outside the public service.
The above 2012 legislation comes under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation.
DPER Circular 24/2022 provides guidelines on the application of abatement in accordance with the above legislation.
The effective operation of the system of abatement depends upon timely notification by the second/new Public Service Body employer and/or the individual ex-Defence Forces member to the pension paying authority (i.e.: Pensions Administration Section, Department of Defence) that they have taken up employment again within the public service.
Once the Department of Defence is informed that a Defence Forces pensioner has been re-employed in a relevant public service position, their pension is reviewed and the abatement, as appropriate, of their pension will be implemented immediately, in line with the legislative requirements.
There are currently 140 ex-Defence Forces members whose pensions are reduced or ceased under the 2012 Act.
In addition to the above, the Deputy may also wish to note that the pensions of former members of the Defence Forces who re-join the Defence Forces under re-enlistment or re-commissioning arrangements are suspended upon re-joining the Defence Forces.
