INDEX

Paragraph

1. Short Title

2. Commencement

3. Definitions

4. Membership

5. Pensionable Remuneration

6. Pensionable Service

7. Optional Retention of Preserved Benefits

8. Benefits

9. Retirement on Medical Grounds

10. Payment of Pension or Preserved Pension

11. Pensions Increases

12. Contributions

13. Employment Subsequent to Retirement or Resignation

14. Cesser or Reduction of Benefit

15. Conditions Governing Awards

16. Assignments

17. Duplication of Benefit not to be allowed

18. Contributions to Certain Organisations

19. Appeals

20. Termination or Amendment of Scheme

Schedule

Preamble

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

"Iris Oifigiúil" of 16th October, 2015.

The Minister for Social Protection, in exercise of the power conferred by section 130 of the Pensions Act 1990 (as inserted by section 5 of the Pensions (Amendment) Act 2002 ), with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, hereby makes the following scheme and for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions referenced in the Schedule shall also apply to amend and form part of the Scheme.

1. Short Title

This scheme may be cited as the Pensions Ombudsman’s Superannuation Scheme 2015

2. Commencement

The scheme shall be deemed to have commenced with effect from 28 April 2003, which shall be known as the date of commencement

3. Definitions

In this scheme save where the context otherwise requires:

"Act" means the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 2004 (No. 7 of 2004);

"actual pensionable service" means service as defined in subparagraph 6.1 of this scheme but excluding service which is reckonable under subparagraphs 6.1(c), 6.1(d) and/or any notional service transferred under subparagraph 6.1(e) of this scheme;

"fully insured member" means a member of this scheme who is, or was immediately before attaining the age of 66 (increasing to age 67 from 2021 and age 68 from 2028) insured for State Pension (Contributory) under the Social Welfare Acts;

"ill-health vesting period" means the equivalent of five years’ whole-time actual pensionable service;

"Knock-for-Knock Agreement under the Local Government Superannuation Code" means an agreement under articles 279(9) and 280 of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme, 1998;

"Local Government Superannuation Code" means any scheme or regulation made under the Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1980 (No. 8 of 1980) other than the Local Government (Superannuation) (Gratuities) Regulations, 1984 (as amended) or the provisions of Part V of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme, 1998;

"member" means the Pensions Ombudsman, if pensionable;

"minimum pension age" means

(i) in the case of a member who is not a new entrant, age 60;

(ii) in the case of a person who is a new entrant, age 65;

"Minister" means the Minister for Social Protection;

"new entrant" shall be construed in accordance with section 2 of the Act;

"part-time office-holder" means an office-holder who works less than the standard hours of a comparable office-holder in a whole-time post;

"Pensions Ombudsman" means the holder of the office of Pensions Ombudsman, as described in Section 127 of the Pensions (Amendment) Act 2002 ;

"personal rate", in relation to any Social Welfare benefit, means the rate of such benefit payable under the Social Welfare Acts to a single person excluding any increase that is payable on age grounds, or by virtue of the recipient living alone, or in respect of a qualified adult or child dependant, and "maximum personal rate" shall be construed accordingly;

"public service pension scheme" has the meaning assigned thereto in subsection 1(1) of the Act;

"reduced rate", in relation to any Social Welfare benefit, means the personal rate of such benefit if that rate is less than the maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory);

"Social Welfare Acts" means the Social Welfare Acts 1981 to 2012 including any enactment which amends or extends any or all of those Acts and any regulation, warrant or order made thereunder;

"Social Welfare Benefit" means State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Transition), Invalidity Pension, Illness Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit payable under the Social Welfare Acts;

"State Pension (Contributory)" means the State Pension (Contributory) payable under the Social Welfare Acts;

"transfer value payment" means a payment calculated in accordance with such tables as are approved and in such manner as is determined by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, or the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government under the Local Government Code;

"vesting period" means the equivalent of 2 years’ actual pensionable service;

"work-sharer" means a whole-time office-holder who, under an arrangement which has been approved by the Minister, works less than the standard hours of the whole-time post;

"years" means a figure determined by the formula A + B/365 where A is the number of completed years in the period in question and B is any number of days additional to a completed year or a number of completed years in that period, and "year" shall be construed accordingly

4. Membership

4. 1 For the purposes of this scheme, "pensionable office-holder" means a person holding the office of Pensions Ombudsman in a pensionable capacity

4. 2 Membership of this scheme shall not apply to persons

(a) who are in membership of a retirement benefit scheme of any body associated with the Pensions Ombudsman,

(b) in the case of an office-holder who is not a new entrant, whose actual pensionable service on attaining age 70 would be less than the vesting period,

4. 3 Membership shall be compulsory for all pensionable office-holders, other than those referred to in paragraph 4.2.

4. 4 The Minister shall decide upon the eligibility for membership of the scheme. The Minister shall notify the Pensions Ombudsman of his or her admission to membership of the scheme and shall furnish him or her with a copy of the terms of the scheme.

5. Pensionable Remuneration

5. 1 Salary

"Salary" means the annual basic rate of remuneration payable from time to time as lawfully determined or lawfully approved by the Minister excluding any sums paid in respect of overtime, commission, gratuity, special fees, travelling allowance, subsistence allowance and the like, the money equivalent of any emolument or benefit in kind (including motor car or other vehicle) or any payment toward or in respect of such emoluments.

5. 2 Allowances

"Allowances" means such allowances in the nature of pay lawfully determined or lawfully approved by the Minister which are designated as pensionable with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, but excluding any sums paid in respect of overtime, commission, gratuity, special fees, travelling allowance, subsistence allowance and the like, the money equivalent of any emolument or benefit in kind (including motor car or other vehicle) or any payment toward or in respect of such emoluments.

5. 3 Remuneration

"Remuneration" means the aggregate of salary and allowances (multiplied by 52.18 in the case of weekly allowances).

5. 4 Net Remuneration

"Net remuneration" means the amount by which remuneration exceeds twice the annual maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) payable from time to time to a person who has no adult dependent or qualified children.

5. 5 Retiring Salary

"Retiring salary" means

(a) in the case of a member whose actual service and potential service to the end of his or her contract of employment is less than 1 year, the rate of salary multiplied by the number of days in the contract divided by 365;

(b) where a member has had the same scale of salary and has been in the same grade for the last three years of his or her pensionable service, the salary of the member at the date of retirement or death;

(c) where a member under 67 years of age dies in service, the salary of the member at the date of death;

(d) where a member retires or is retired on medical grounds before minimum pension age with sufficient potential service to minimum pension age to avoid averaging, the salary of the member at the date of retirement.

In any other case retiring salary shall be averaged by taking the total calculated by multiplying by 1/1095 the annual rate of salary appropriate on the last day of pensionable service for each grade in which the member served during the last three years of pensionable service, and multiplying the result by the number of days of his or her employment in each grade during those years, subject to the retiring salary so taken not exceeding the annual basic rate of salary payable at the time of retirement or death. Where the pensionable service of the member is less than three years, the number of days of pensionable service shall be substituted for 1095.

5. 6 Pensionable Allowances

"Pensionable allowances" means the average of any allowances paid to the member calculated in accordance with the provisions of Department of Finance Circular 10/2008.

5. 7 Pensionable Remuneration

"Pensionable remuneration" means the aggregate of retiring salary and pensionable allowances.

6. Pensionable Service

6. 1 For the purpose of calculating benefits under this scheme, pensionable service is the aggregate of-

(a) paid service as a pensionable office-holder since the date of commencement, other than service in respect of which, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 7, the member has opted to retain entitlement to preserved benefits, provided that any period during which a member was or is a part-time office-holder shall be reckonable in the proportion which the hours worked bear to comparable whole-time service;

(b) actual service transferred in accordance with arrangements approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and/or the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government;

(c) notional service purchased by a member and transferred in accordance with arrangements approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and/or the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government;

(d) notional service purchased by a member in accordance with the provisions determined by the Minister and the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; and

(e) in the case of a member in respect of whom a transfer value in respect of superannuation benefits in a former employment other than employment referred to in subparagraphs 6.1 (b) and (c) of this scheme is received by the Minister, such additional service as the amount of the transfer value will purchase on the basis of actuarial tables approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

6. 2 (a) A member who has completed the ill-health vesting period and who retires, or is retired, on medical grounds in accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 9.1 of this scheme, may, at the discretion of the Minister have a period of notional service (to be referred to as "ill-health notional service") added to his or her pensionable service, provided that the aggregate of pensionable service and ill-health notional service does not exceed 40 years.

(b) The ill-health notional service shall be calculated on the following basis:

(i) members whose actual pensionable service is between 5 and 10 years will be allowed an equivalent amount of ill-health notional service, such amount of notional service not to exceed the amount of the pensionable service he or she would have had if he or she served to age 70 or, if earlier, to the date on which his or her contract of employment would expire;

(ii) members whose actual pensionable service is between 10 and 20 years will be allowed the more favourable of:

(I) an amount of service equal to the period by which 20 years exceeds the said actual pensionable service, the added service not to exceed the additional amount of the pensionable service he or she would have had if he or she served to age 70 or, if earlier, to the date on which his or her contract of employment would expire;

(II) 6 years and 243 days, the added service not to exceed the additional amount of the pensionable service he or she would have had if he or she served to age 60 or, if earlier, to the date on which his or her contract of employment would expire;

(iii) members with more than 20 years of actual pensionable service at retirement will be allowed to add whichever is the lesser of:

(I) 6 years and 243 days, or

(II) the amount of additional pensionable service he or she would have had if he or she had served to age 60, or, if earlier, to the date on which his or her contract of employment would expire.

6. 3 (a) For the purposes of this scheme, "earlier service" means the service by reference to which the benefits referred to in subparagraph 6.3 (b) were calculated.

(b) The maximum service reckonable for benefits under this scheme is 40 years, subject in the case of

(i) office-holders who have retained an entitlement to preserved benefits under the provisions of paragraph 7,

(ii) office-holders whose pensions were suspended under the provisions of 13.3,

(iii) office-holders whose pensions were suspended under the provisions of paragraph 13.4 and

(iv) office-holders with an entitlement to benefits payable from any pension scheme wholly or partly funded out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas or from the Central Fund or the growing produce of that Fund to maximum service not exceeding the difference between earlier service and 40 years.

7. Optional Retention of Preserved Benefits

(a) A new entrant who is entitled to preserved benefits payable at age 60 in respect of earlier service as a member of this scheme or

(b) a fully insured member who is entitled to preserved benefits in respect of earlier service as a member of this scheme during which service he or she was not fully insured

may opt to retain entitlement to the said preserved benefits, subject to

(i) payment of the preserved pension not commencing before the date on which membership of this scheme ceases and

(ii) in the event of death in service, the deduction of the preserved death gratuity from any death gratuity payable under paragraph 8.2.

8. Benefits

8. 1 Pension

(a) Where a member, at retirement, is a part-time office-holder or a work-sharer, pensionable remuneration for the purposes of this subparagraph shall be deemed to be the pensionable remuneration applicable if he or she were working in a whole-time capacity.

(b) A new entrant who has completed the vesting period and who retires, or is retired, after attaining the age of 65 years shall be eligible to receive a pension of an amount per annum calculated at the rate of 1/80th of his or her pensionable remuneration for each year of pensionable service or, in the case of a fully insured member, a pension calculated in accordance with the formula

[A x C 200] + [B x C 80], where

A is

(I) if the member’s pensionable remuneration is less than or equal to 3 and 1/3rd times the annual maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) payable on the last day of the member’s pensionable service, the amount of the member’s pensionable remuneration; or

(II) if the member’s pensionable remuneration exceeds 3 and 1/3rd times the annual maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) payable on the last day of the member’s pensionable service, that part of the member’s pensionable remuneration which equals 3 and 1/3rd times the said rate of State Pension (Contributory);

B is that part (if any) of the member’s pensionable remuneration which exceeds 3 and 1/3rd times the annual maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) payable on the last day of the member’s pensionable service; and

C is the amount of the member’s pensionable service, subject to a maximum of 40 years.

(c) A member who is not a new entrant and who has completed the vesting period and who retires, or is retired, after attaining the age of 60 shall be eligible to receive a pension of an amount per annum calculated at the rate of 1/80th of his or her pensionable remuneration or, in the case of a fully insured member, a pension calculated in accordance with the formula

[A x C 200] + [B x C 80], where

A is

(I) if the member’s pensionable remuneration is less than or equal to 3 and 1/3rd times the annual maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) payable on the last day of the member’s pensionable service, the amount of the member’s pensionable remuneration; or

(II) if the member’s pensionable remuneration exceeds 3 and 1/3rd times the annual maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) payable on the last day of the member’s pensionable service, that part of the member’s pensionable remuneration which equals 3 and 1/3rd times the said rate of State Pension (Contributory);

B is that part (if any) of the member’s pensionable remuneration which exceeds 3 and 1/3rd times the annual maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) payable on the last day of the member’s pensionable service; and

C is the amount of the member’s pensionable service, subject to a maximum of 40 years.

(d) A member who has completed the ill-health vesting period and who retires, or is retired, on medical grounds in accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 9.1 of this scheme shall be eligible to receive a pension of an amount per annum calculated at the rate of 1/80th of his or her pensionable remuneration or, in the case of a fully insured member, a pension calculated in accordance with the formula

[A x C 200] + [B x C 80], where

A is

(I) if the member’s pensionable remuneration is less than or equal to 3 and 1/3rd times the annual maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) payable on the last day of the member’s pensionable service, the amount of the member’s pensionable remuneration; or

(II) if the member’s pensionable remuneration exceeds 3 and 1/3rd times the annual maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) payable on the last day of the member’s pensionable service, that part of the member’s pensionable remuneration which equals 3 and 1/3rd times the said rate of State Pension (Contributory);

B is that part (if any) of the member’s pensionable remuneration which exceeds 3 and 1/3rd times the annual maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) payable on the last day of the member’s pensionable service; and

C is the amount of the member’s pensionable service, subject to a maximum of 40 years.

8. 2 Gratuities

(a) A member who has completed at least one year’s actual pensionable service and less than the vesting period who retires or is retired on medical grounds in accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 9.1 shall be eligible to receive a gratuity of 1/12th of pensionable remuneration for each year of pensionable service. Where a member, at retirement, is a part-time office-holder or a work-sharer, pensionable remuneration shall be deemed to be the pensionable remuneration applicable if he or she were working in a whole-time capacity.

(b) A member who has completed the vesting period but not the ill-health vesting period who retires or is retired on medical grounds in accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 9.1, shall be eligible to receive a gratuity at the rate of 1/12th of pensionable remuneration for each year of pensionable service and, in addition, a gratuity equal to 3/80ths of his or her pensionable remuneration for each year of pensionable service, provided he or she opts in writing to accept such gratuities in lieu of any other benefits for which he or she may be eligible under this scheme. Where a member, at retirement, is a part-time office-holder or a work-sharer, pensionable remuneration shall be deemed to be the pensionable remuneration applicable if he or she were working in a whole-time capacity.

(c) A new entrant who has completed the vesting period and who retires or is retired after attaining the age of 65 shall be eligible to receive a lump sum at the rate of 3/80ths of pensionable remuneration for each year of pensionable service subject to a maximum of 120/80ths. Where a member, at retirement, is a part-time office-holder or a work-sharer, pensionable remuneration shall be deemed to be the pensionable remuneration applicable if he or she were working in a whole-time capacity.

(d) A member who is not a new entrant and has completed the vesting period and who retires or is retired after attaining the age of 60 shall be eligible to receive a lump sum at the rate of 3/80ths of pensionable remuneration for each year of pensionable service subject to a maximum of 120/80ths. Where a member, at retirement, is a part-time office-holder or a work-sharer, pensionable remuneration shall be deemed to be the pensionable remuneration applicable if he or she were working in a whole-time capacity.

(e) A member who has completed the ill-health vesting period and retires or is retired on medical grounds in accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 9.1, shall be eligible to receive a lump sum at the rate of 3/80ths of pensionable remuneration for each year of pensionable service subject to a maximum of 120/80ths. Where a member, at retirement, is a part-time office-holder or a work-sharer, pensionable remuneration shall be deemed to be the pensionable remuneration applicable if he or she were working in a whole-time capacity.

(f) (i) If a member dies while serving, his or her legal personal representative shall be eligible to receive the greater of-

(a) his or her pensionable remuneration or

(b) the lump sum that would have been payable had the member retired on medical grounds on the date of his or her death.

(ii) If a former member who has been granted a pension and a lump sum dies and the total paid or payable on foot of the pension (including any amount which would have been payable had the provisions of paragraph 13.4 not applied in his or her case) and lump sum (including any deductions made in respect of non- periodic contributions under any scheme made under section 130 of the Pensions Act 1990 (as inserted by section 5 of the Pensions (Amendment) Act 2002 ) which provides for the payment of pension benefits to the Spouse, Civil Partner and/or Children of a member is less than the gratuity which could have been granted to his or her legal personal representative if he or she had died on the date of his or her retirement, his or her legal personal representative shall be eligible to receive a gratuity equal to the deficiency.

8. 3 Preservation of Benefits - New Entrants.

(a) Where a member who is a new entrant

(i) ceases to be a member before age 65 other than in accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 9.1 after completing the vesting period or

(ii) ceases to be a member before age 65 in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 9.1 after completing the vesting period but not the ill-health vesting period and does not opt, in writing, for the benefits of paragraph 8.2 (b)

he or she will, on attaining the age of 65, qualify under this subparagraph for a pension and lump sum payment (which pension and lump sum are in this scheme referred to as a "preserved pension" and "preserved lump sum" respectively), provided

(I) he or she does not receive any other benefit in respect of that service, and

(II) that service is not reckoned for pension purposes by him or her in another employment under approved arrangements.

(b) A preserved pension shall be awarded to the person concerned on and from his or her attaining the age of 65 on an application being made by him or her in that behalf. Where the person concerned dies on or after attaining age 65 without applying for the preserved pension, an amount equal to the preserved pension payable between age 65 and the date of death of the person concerned shall be payable to the legal personal representative of the person concerned on application being made.

(c) The amount of a preserved pension shall be the amount which would have been awarded to the member concerned under paragraph 8.1 of this scheme if he or she had attained age 65 on the date of resignation, as increased by reference to pensions increases granted under Article 11 of this scheme in the interval between the date of resignation and the date on which the member attains age 65.

(d) If a person referred to in paragraph 8.3 (a) dies before attaining the age of 65, a sum (in this scheme referred to as a "preserved death gratuity") shall be payable to the person’s legal personal representative by the Minister in respect of him or her.

(e) The amount of a preserved lump sum or preserved death gratuity shall be the amount which would have been awarded to the member concerned under paragraph 8.2 of this scheme if he or she had attained age 65 on the date of resignation, as increased by reference to pensions increases granted under paragraph 11 of this scheme in the interval between the date of resignation and the date

(i) on which he or she attains age 65, in the case of a preserved lump sum, or

(ii) of his or her death, in the case of a preserved death gratuity.

(f) A preserved lump sum or preserved death gratuity shall be payable to or in respect of the person concerned on an application being made to the Minister by him or her at any time after he or she reaches the age of 65 or, in case he or she dies before reaching that age, by his or her legal personal representative. Where the person concerned dies on or after attaining age 65 without applying for the preserved lump sum, an amount equal to the preserved lump sum shall be payable to the legal personal representative of the person concerned on application being made.

(g) A member to whom this subparagraph applies who, on the date of his or her resignation, is aged 55 or over may apply in writing before the date of resignation to have his or her preserved pension and lump sum benefits paid with effect from the date of resignation and, if the Minister agrees, those benefits shall be calculated by reference to the member’s pensionable remuneration at the date of resignation and shall be payable as and from that date, but the amount of each benefit shall be reduced by reference to the member’s age at date of resignation in accordance with actuarial tables approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

(h) The Minister may at his or her discretion pay a supplementary pension on the terms and conditions set out in subparagraph 8.5 of this scheme.

(i) Where a member, at retirement, is a part-time office-holder or a work-sharer, pensionable remuneration for the purposes of this subparagraph shall be deemed to be the pensionable remuneration applicable if he or she were working in a whole-time capacity.

8. 4 Preservation of Benefits - members who are not New Entrants.

(a) Where a member who is not a new entrant

(i) ceases to be a member before age 60 other than in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 9.1 after completing the vesting period or

(ii) ceases to be a member before age 60 in accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 9.1 after completing the vesting period but not the ill-health vesting period and does not opt, in writing, for the benefits of paragraph 8.2 (b),

he or she will, on attaining the age of 60, qualify under this paragraph for a pension and lump sum payment (which pension and lump sum are in this scheme referred to as a "preserved pension" and "preserved lump sum" respectively), provided

(I) he or she does not receive any other benefit in respect of that service, and

(II) that service is not reckoned for pension purposes by him or her in another employment under approved arrangements.

(b) A preserved pension shall be awarded to the person concerned on and from his or her attaining the age of 60 on an application being made by him or her in that behalf. Where the person concerned dies on or after attaining age 60 without applying for the preserved pension, an amount equal to the preserved pension payable between age 60 and the date of death of the person concerned shall be payable to the legal personal representative of the person concerned on application being made.

(c) The amount of a preserved pension shall be the amount which would have been awarded to the member concerned under paragraph 8.1 of this scheme if he or she had attained age 60 on the date of resignation, as increased by reference to pensions increases granted under Article 11 of this scheme in the interval between the date of resignation and the date on which the member attains age 60.

(d) If a person referred to in paragraph 8.4 (a) dies before attaining the age of 60, a sum (in this scheme referred to as a "preserved death gratuity") shall be payable to the person’s legal personal representative by the Minister in respect of him or her.

(e) The amount of a preserved lump sum or preserved death gratuity shall be the amount which would have been awarded to the member concerned under paragraph 8.2 of this scheme if he or she had attained age 60 on the date of resignation, as increased by reference to pensions increases granted under paragraph 11 of this scheme in the interval between the date of resignation and the date

(i) on which he or she attains age 60, in the case of a preserved lump sum, or

(ii) of his or her death, in the case of a preserved death gratuity.

(f) A preserved lump sum or preserved death gratuity shall be payable to or in respect of the person concerned on an application being made to the Minister by him or her at any time after he or she reaches the age of 60 or, in case he or she dies before reaching that age, by his or her legal personal representative. Where the person concerned dies on or after attaining age 60 without applying for the preserved lump sum, an amount equal to the preserved lump sum shall be payable to the legal personal representative of the person concerned on application being made.

(g) A member to whom this subparagraph applies who, on the date of his or her resignation, is aged 50 or over may apply in writing before the date of resignation to have his or her preserved pension and lump sum benefits paid with effect from the date of resignation and if the Minister agrees, those benefits shall be calculated by reference to the member’s pensionable remuneration at the date of resignation and shall be payable as and from that date, but the amount of each benefit shall be reduced by reference to the member’s age at date of resignation in accordance with actuarial tables approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

(h) The Minister may at his or her discretion pay a supplementary pension on the terms and conditions set out in subparagraph 8.5 of this scheme.

(i) Where a member, at retirement, is a part-time office-holder or a work-sharer, pensionable remuneration for the purposes of this subparagraph shall be deemed to be the pensionable remuneration applicable if he or she were working in a whole-time capacity.

8. 5 Supplementary Pension

(a) Where a person who was a fully insured member is in receipt of a pension or a preserved pension under this scheme is unemployed and, due to causes outside his or her own control:

(i) fails to qualify for Social Welfare benefit or

(ii) qualifies for Social Welfare benefit at a reduced rate and

(iii) in the case of a person mentioned in subparagraph 8.3(g) has attained the age of 65 years or

(iv) in the case of a person mentioned in subparagraph 8.4(g) has attained the age of 60 years

then for so long as the Minister is satisfied that the preconditions set out in this subparagraph are met, the person concerned may, at the discretion of the Minister be paid a supplementary pension under this scheme.

(b) The amount of a supplementary pension payable pursuant to subparagraph (a) of this paragraph shall be the amount, if any, arrived at by the formula A - (B+C), where A is the amount of the pension or preserved pension which would be payable to the former member if he or she had not been fully insured, B is the amount of the pension actually payable to the former member and C is the annual amount of the Social Welfare benefit, if any, which is payable to the former member.

8. 6 Return of Contributions

In the case of a contributory member who has completed less than the vesting period

(i) whose membership ceases otherwise than on medical grounds or death and

(ii) who does not transfer his or her pensionable service to another organisation in accordance with arrangements approved by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and/or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

his or her contributions shall be returned to him or her less an amount equal to any income tax liability by the Minister in respect of such contributions.

9. Retirement on Medical Grounds

9. 1 Where a member retires or is retired on medical grounds, a benefit under paragraphs 8.1 and/or 8.2 of this scheme shall only be paid where the following conditions are met.

(a) Medical evidence must be supplied, having regard to which the Minister is satisfied that the member is incapable from infirmity of mind or body of discharging the duties of his or her post and that that infirmity is likely to be permanent. In this connection, the member must, if requested by the Minister, undergo medical examination by a registered medical practitioner nominated by the Minister.

(b) The retirement must be wholly due to the infirmity.

(c) The infirmity must not have been caused by the member’s own fault or negligence.

(d) The member must not

(i) have made a false declaration about his or her health or

(ii) have suppressed a material fact about his or her health when applying to take up his or her post.

9. 2 Where any or all of the above conditions are not met, paragraphs 8.3 or 8.4, as appropriate, of this scheme shall apply in lieu of benefit under paragraphs 8.1 and/or 8.2.

10. Payment of Pension or Preserved Pension

Save as is otherwise provided in the scheme, pensions and preserved pensions payable under this scheme shall be paid monthly, or as otherwise decided by the Minister, in arrears and shall continue throughout the life of the member.

11. Pensions Increases

The Minister may grant such increases in such pensions and preserved pensions under this scheme as may be authorised from time to time with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

12. Contributions

12. 1 Every member who is fully insured shall pay a contribution as from the date of entry to the scheme.

12. 2 The contribution shall comprise

(a) 3.5% of net remuneration and

(b) 1.5% of remuneration

provided that in the case of a member who is a part-time office-holder or a work-sharer, the contributions under sub-clause (a) above shall be calculated in accordance with the formula A x B C, where

A is the amount of the contribution which would be payable by an equivalent whole-time office-holder,

B is the number of hours (excluding overtime) worked by the member concerned, and

C is the standard number of hours applicable to an equivalent whole-time post.

12. 3 Where a member is in receipt of a reduced rate of pay because of absence from employment, the contributions in respect of that period will be calculated by reference to the rate of pay that would be payable to him or her if he or she were not so absent.

12. 4 An actuarial revaluation of the scheme may be carried out from time to time if the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform so decides and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform retains the right to vary the contributions payable.

13. Employment subsequent to Retirement or Resignation

13. 1 Where a member whose contributions have been returned to him or her under paragraph 8.6 is re-appointed as Pensions Ombudsman in a pensionable position, his or her previous pensionable service may be reckoned for the purpose of calculating superannuation subsequently, provided he or she refunds to the Minister the amount of the contributions paid to him or her with compound interest on such amount at such rate per annum as may be specified by Minister and with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, with half-yearly rests from the date of payment to him or her. The Minister may, at his or her discretion, agree to accept such refunds by instalments, provided interest on the basis outlined above continues to be paid on the outstanding balance.

13. 2 Where a member whose contributions have been returned to him or her under subparagraph 8.6 subsequently becomes employed in a pensionable position in which his or her previous pensionable service is capable of being reckoned, his or her previous pensionable service may be reckoned for superannuation subsequently, provided he refunds the amount of the contributions including interest paid to him or her with compound interest on such amount at such rate per annum as may be specified by the Minister with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, with half-yearly rests from the date of payment to him or her.

13. 3 Where a member who retires or is retired on medical grounds and has been awarded a pension and lump sum or gratuity only is subsequently reappointed as a pensionable office-holder

(a) if the member was awarded a pension on his or her initial retirement, that pension shall be suspended on his or her re-entry to membership of this scheme, and

(b) at the members option, either

(i) the original pension shall, on the members subsequent retirement, be resumed at a rate based only on the members service on initial retirement, and the member shall be awarded an additional pension based on subsequent pensionable service; or

(ii) the members entitlement to the original pension shall be cancelled, and the members service on initial retirement shall be aggregated with subsequent pensionable service for the purposes of determining pension benefit under this scheme,

(c) all of the members pensionable service shall be reckoned for the purposes of determining lump sum or death gratuity benefit under this scheme, and the amount of any lump sum or death gratuity awarded to or in respect of the member on his or her eventual retirement or death shall be reduced by the amount of the lump sum or gratuity paid to him or her on his or her initial retirement.

(d) In Clause (b) of this paragraph, "service on initial retirement" means the members pensionable service on his or her initial retirement on medical grounds, excluding any notional service awarded under paragraph 6.1(f) or paragraph 6.2 of this Scheme.

13. 4 If a member was awarded a pension and lump sum on retirement in accordance with the terms of the ISER scheme as provided in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 or any similar scheme no more of the pension shall be paid for any period of membership of a public service pension scheme than so much as, with the remuneration payable during membership, equals the pay which the person would have received in respect of the period of membership if during it he or she

(a) held the position of Pensions Ombudsman on the last day of his or her pensionable service but

(b) was remunerated at the rate of pay of which he or she was in receipt on that date (including the money value of apartments, rations or other perquisites in kind) subject, however, in case changes have taken place, (or, if the position has ceased to exist would have taken place if it had not ceased to exist), in that rate, to treating that rate as being varied by taking account of so much of those changes as may be specified by the Minister.

13. 5 If a pensioner under this scheme receives payment in respect of employment by the Minister or by any person or firm resident in the State and associated with or directly or indirectly controlled by the Minister no more of the pension or preserved pension shall be paid for any period of receipt of the payment as may be specified by the Minister than so much as, with the payment, equals the pay which the person would have received in respect of that period if during it he or she

(a) held the position of Pensions Ombudsman on the last day of his or her pensionable service, but

(b) was remunerated at the rate of pay of which he or she was in receipt on that date (including the money value of apartments, rations or other perquisites in kind) subject, however, in case changes have taken place, (or, if the position has ceased to exist would have taken place if it had not ceased to exist), in that rate, to treating that rate as being varied by taking account of so much of those changes as may be specified by the Minister.

14. Cesser or Reduction of Benefit

14. 1 Where a member is dismissed or resigns or otherwise ceases to hold office and has been guilty of misconduct involving a financial loss to the Minister or the State, the Minister may, at his or her discretion, refuse or reduce any award which might otherwise be payable under Article 8 of this scheme (including a return of contributions under paragraph 8.6) in order to make good such a loss.

14. 2 The Minister may, at his or her discretion, reduce or cease paying a pension awarded under this scheme if the pensioner has been guilty of misconduct involving a financial loss to the Minister or the State, in order to make good such a loss.

15. Conditions Governing Awards

15. 1 Declarations

Payments of pension or preserved pension under this scheme shall be subject to the making by the pensioner of a relevant declaration in such form and at such time as the Minister may require.

15. 2 Proof of Age

A member must submit evidence of his or her date of birth on entry into the scheme or before any payment of benefit can be made.

16. Assignments

A pension or preserved pension under this scheme may not be assigned or charged. If the pensioner becomes incapable of giving a receipt for payments due, the Minister shall have discretion to make such payments in whole or in part to such persons, including the authorities of any institution having care of the pensioner, as the Minister thinks fit, and the Minister shall be discharged from all liability in respect of any sum so paid.

17. Duplication of Benefit not to be allowed

17. 1 (a) A member shall not be entitled to reckon the same period of time more than once for the purposes of a pension, lump sum or gratuity, unless in the case of a gratuity, having been entitled to repay such gratuity, he or she has done so.

(b) A member shall not be entitled to reckon the same period of time both for the purposes of this scheme and also for the purposes of any pension scheme wholly or partly funded out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas or from the Central Fund or the growing produce of that Fund.

17. 2 Where a member’s appointment as Pensions Ombudsman ceases (whether on retirement, death or otherwise), benefit under this scheme shall be reduced by reference to any sum, other than one to which the prior approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform had been obtained, which is payable to or in respect of him or her on such cesser, other than under this scheme, by the Minister or under any arrangement (whether by way of insurance or otherwise) to which the Minister has contributed.

18. Contributions to certain organisations

18. 1 Where a superannuation award is made by a local authority to any person under the provisions of the Local Government Superannuation Code and in determining the amount of the award any period of pensionable service as Pensions Ombudsman has been reckoned, the Minister shall, in the absence of a Knock-for-Knock Agreement under the Local Government Superannuation Code, make a single transfer value payment or a series of contributions to the local authority, as may be agreed between the local authority and the Minister, and such payment or contributions shall be in accordance with such tables or rates as may be approved by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

18. 2 Where under the Local Government Superannuation Code, superannuation contributions are returned by a local authority to a former member of this scheme and the amount includes a sum in respect of contributions paid under this scheme, the Minister shall, in the absence of a Knock-for-Knock Agreement under the Local Government Superannuation Code, recoup such sum to the local authority.

19. Appeals

If a member or former member is aggrieved by the failure or refusal of the Minister to make an award under this scheme or by the amount of any award (including the award of pension increases) made, he or she may appeal to the Minister who shall refer the dispute to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, whose decision shall be final.

20. Termination or Amendment of Scheme

The Minister reserves the right to amend or terminate the scheme at any time, subject to the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and subject to giving three months’ notice of impending changes to members of the scheme. Benefits secured for a member or former member prior to the date of amendment or termination will not be affected.

Schedule

1. The following provisions of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 (No. 37 of 2012) with effect from 28 July 2012:

Subsections (6) and (7) of section 52 [forty-year limit];

Section 68, paragraph (a), in so far as it inserts a definition of "pension adjustment order";

Section 69 in so far as it inserts subsection (1B) into section 2 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 [pension adjustment order provision].

2. S.I. No. 393 of 2012 - Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 (Commencement of Certain Provisions of Section 52) Order 2012 [abatement provisions with effect from 1 November 2012].

3. S.I. No. 413 of 2012 - Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 (Commencement of Certain Provisions Relating to Pre-existing Public Service Pension Schemes) Order 2012 [duty to give information, use of PPS numbers, declarations, cesser or reduction of benefit, limit of one survivor’s pension, all with effect from 1 November 2012].

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform hereby consents to the making of the above Scheme.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

9 October 2015.

BRENDAN HOWLIN,

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

The Minister for Social Protection hereby makes the above Scheme.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Social Protection

9 October 2015.

JOAN BURTON,

Minister for Social Protection.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations establish the Pensions Ombudsman Superannuation Scheme 2015.