Staff who reach max retirement age (age 70) during the course of the academic calendar year may continue to work until the end of the academic year in the year that they retire if the department requires and subject to the approval of the relevant Head. The last day of each academic year is considered to be the 30th September.

 If you are a member of a pre-existing pension scheme, under approved arrangements you can transfer your service to or from a variety of public sector organisations such as the civil service, the local authority and health sectors, the Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, the teaching sector and certain other state or semi state bodies. The Pensions team can advise you of the full extent of these transfer of service arrangements. If you are newly-appointed, you should notify the pensions team of any previous employment.

However, if you are a member of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (i.e. joined the public sector post 1 Jan 2013) your membership simply continues in the scheme. Once you reach retirement, your final public sector employer gathers information on your accrued benefits from each institution and pays the total benefits. You should receive a cessation statement on leaving a public sector body, which you should retain for your records and provide a copy to the pensions team. 

Your contributions, less income tax deduction, are refunded to you if you resign with less than 2 years’ membership of the scheme, provided you are not moving to another public sector employer or have enough service in a previous public sector employer which would deem you vested in the scheme (i.e. more than 2 years overall). 

In the event of judicial separation or divorce, a Court Order for a Pension Adjustment Order in respect of the retirement or contingent benefits (benefits arising from death in service) payable to or in respect of a married member may be sought and made. Further information about the operation and impact of Pension Adjustment Orders can be obtained from the Pensions Board.

The Scheme applies to any person who became a pensionable employee after a specified date (1 January 1980 for male members and 1 July 1985 for female members). It is obligatory to join the Scheme and you must remain in it.

No. You must continue to pay contributions in the case of the Main Scheme until retirement even if this means your total service is in excess of 40 years. However, you will receive a refund of any Spouse and Children contributions in excess of 40 years based on your earliest contributions. For Single Scheme members, you continue to accrue benefits up to a max age of 70.