Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
194. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Defence the number of retired Defence Force personnel who currently have their pension entitlement abated due to being employed in other sectors of the public sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35906/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe abatement of public service pensions is provided for under section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012.
This legislation is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation, and his Department has provided guidelines on the application of abatement in accordance with the legislation.
The effective operation of the system of abatement depends upon notification by the second/new Public Service Body employer and/or the individual ex-Defence Forces member to the pension paying authority (i.e.: the Department of Defence's Pensions Administration) that they have taken up employment again within the public sector.
Once my Department is informed that a relevant Defence Forces pensioner has been re-employed in a relevant public service position, their pension is reviewed and, if appropriate, the abatement of their pension will be commenced immediately, in line with the legislative requirements.
As of end April 2026, there were over 11,000 former members of the Permanent Defence Force in receipt of a Defence Forces occupational pension. Of these, there are currently 140 whose pensions are reduced or ceased under the 2012 Act.
As the Deputy may be aware, the principle of public service pension abatement is long-standing within the rules of various public service pension schemes. It applies across all of the public service, including the Permanent Defence Force. It does not apply in relation to employment with the commercial state bodies or where public service pensioners are employed outside the public service. Abatement policy remains a key component of Public Service pension policy and addresses valid concerns about simultaneous payment of both pension and salary in the Public Service.
