IPPN

DE External Pension Section - Reminder on obligations of employing retired public servants

Published: 15 May 2024

The Department of Education would like to remind schools of their obligations in regard to the employment of retired public servants. Refer to Circular 24/2022 and familiarise yourself with the contents, in particular paragraphs 22 to 26. See also the template declaration which each new employee must complete (linked below).

Some key points to note:

Abatement is applied on a pro rata basis, the fact that an employee may hold a part-time position does not necessarily mean that abatement will not apply to the pensions.
The employee should be advised, if possible, in advance of taking up the post, the potential implications to their pension in payment.
Please note it is the employees pension, not the salary, which is subject to abatement, therefore the onus to apply the abatement falls to the Authority responsible for the payment of the pensions.

The Department offers reassurance that the likelihood of abatement is low. 'As of the end of 2023, 1,388 retired teachers including permanent teachers and teachers on fixed term contracts had returned to work in the primary school sector with only 2.88% of them falling to be abated.'

If teachers have any queries in relation to the application of the circular, they can contact abatementqueries@education.gov.ie.

Relevant resources