Army pensions anomaly raised

Retired Army officers could be forced to sign on for jobseekers' allowance in order to draw their Army pensions, an Oireachtas Committee was told yesterday.

Fine Gael's defence spokesman Jimmy Deenihan said the anomaly was such that a future chief of staff of the Defence Forces would have to claim the allowance if he was to retire at 63, the oldest age at which he could retire. Mr Deenihan told the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights that the anomaly had arisen because officers who had joined since 1995 have a pension that is integrated with the social welfare schemes.

Prior to 1995, their pensions were paid for exclusively by the Department of Defence, but are now paid for by that department and the Department of Social and Family Affairs. However, the Department of Social and Family Affairs does not pay out on pensions until the age of 65 and the balance has to be made up through other welfare payments such as jobseekers' allowance.

The anomaly occurred because it was not designated for groups, like the military, who have a compulsory retirement age lower than 65, Mr Deenihan complained. That meant, he said, that in order to get the full benefit of their integrated pensions, officers retired compulsorily on age grounds would have to claim social welfare benefits until they qualify for the State pension.

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said he was aware of the anomaly, but that it was being dealt by the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Civil Service. "That matter is coming to a close," he said. "Hopefully they [defence forces personnel] will be satisfied." Mr O'Dea also revealed that there are no surviving veterans of the War of Independence still drawing pensions, though there are 555 veterans' widows receiving pensions.