Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2026
244. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason teachers (details supplied) lose part of their supplementary pension; the rationale for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27447/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublic service employees who are fully insured (primarily those who pay Class A PRSI) under the social insurance system operated by the Department of Social Protection may be entitled to a range of social insurance related payments from that department by virtue of their PRSI contributions. One such payment is the State Pension (Contributory) (SPC), which is payable to eligible persons on reaching age 66.
In general, in cases where an individual does not qualify for the state pension (SPC) on retirement, or where the individual qualifies for it at less than the full rate of SPC, pre-existing public service pension schemes make provision for an award of an Occupational Supplementary Pension (OSP), subject to meeting certain eligibility criteria.
In this regard, I refer the Deputy to Circular 12/2024 – ‘Arrangements for Occupational Supplementary Pensions (OSP)’ which sets out the process and administrative arrangements that apply in respect of OSP under pre-existing civil and public service pension schemes. In particular, paragraph 4 sets out the criteria for the payment of supplementary pension, the Deputy will note paragraph 4 (iii), the individual must not be engaged in full-time paid employment, and the individual must not be self-employed.
It should also be noted that where the individual is engaged in part-time employment the OSP is stopped for the days on which the retiree works.
Public servants, including teachers, who pay D class PRSI are not eligible for an occupation supplementary pension. However, all public servants regardless of their PRSI class, who return to work in the public sector, are subject to the rules of pension abatement.
Public sector pension policy, including that relating to the teaching sector, is determined by Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. The rules of the relevant pension scheme are in general set out in statute, or in the relevant circulars and in this regard cannot be deviated from.
I trust this has addressed the Deputy’s query, further information is available on Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation webpage - https://www.publicservicepensions.gov.ie/en/topic/supplementary-pensions/. My department has also provide further guidance on the following link - https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/occupational-supplementary-pensions-teachers-and-non-teaching-staff/.
