Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
372. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of concerns that retired teachers who pay class A PRSI and are permitted to work up to 50-days without pension abatement are nonetheless having deductions applied to their supplementary pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51398/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 52(1)-(5) of the 2012 Single Scheme Act provides that abatement of pension shall apply where a public service pension is payable to a public service pensioner and that pensioner is appointed to a position in the public service in respect of which they are remunerated by a public service body.
Abatement ensures that the public service pension(s) which the pensioner receives, when combined with their remuneration in their new public service job, does not exceed the pensionable remuneration’ they would have received had they continued to serve in their former position.
In light of the teacher supply crisis a limited waiver on abatement was introduced for teachers who returned to teach in a substitute capacity, the waiver does not extend to the supplementary pension.
With regard to the occupational supplementary pension (OSP), 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’s 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. In this regard the Waiver does not apply to Supplementary Pension. Where the individual is engaged in part-time employment the OSP is only stopped for the days on which the retiree works.
Public sector pension policy, including that relating to the teaching sector, is determined by The 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.
