Written answer
Pension Provisions
The Minister said individual supplementary occupational pension applications fall to scheme administrators and advised pursuing the matter through the former employer and, if necessary, the scheme’s dispute process.
4174. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to review an application for a supplementary occupational pension for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54948/26]
Comment on this
My Department’s role is in relation to broader policy, governance, funding, regulatory and oversight matters in the Further and Higher Education sector. As such, my Department does not have a role in the review or assessment of individual applications for benefits under occupational pension schemes.
Responsibility for the administration of these schemes, including the interpretation of scheme rules and the determination of members' entitlements, rests with the relevant scheme administrator acting in accordance with the relevant scheme rules.
The application of Supplementary Occupational Pension Schemes are provided for under DPER Circular 12/2024.
If the individual concerned wishes to pursue the matter further, they should address it directly to their former employer.
If, having raised the matter with their former employer, the individual remains dissatisfied with the response received, any further challenge to the decision may be pursued through the scheme's Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) process. Information on the operation of the IDR process, including how an application is made, may be obtained from the relevant employer.