964. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he is aware that many retired public servants who have paid a "D" PRSI stamp, and who have job-shared, worked part-time or taken periods of leave of absence through long careers in the service to care for family, receive pensions that are now lower than any of the current rates of the old age pension; if he plans to work with the Minister for Social Protection on reforms in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62765/26]

In public service pension schemes, pension benefits accrue by reference to reckonable service or, in the case of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, referable amounts.

Periods of paid leave are reckonable and count towards the accrual of pension benefits under the rules of the relevant public service pension scheme.

Periods of unpaid leave in the public service are not reckonable and, as such, unpaid leave does not give rise to pension accrual in public service pension schemes. Similarly, where an individual works part-time or job-shares, the period of service while doing so is reckonable on a pro-rata basis.

For the duration of both paid and unpaid leave, employees remain members of their scheme and continue to be covered by its provisions, including eligibility for death-in-service benefits where applicable.

Any resulting shortfall in pension accrual may, where applicable, be addressed through the relevant purchase arrangements available under the member's pension scheme.

Entitlement and access to Social Welfare schemes and supports is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection. Individuals who satisfy the relevant qualifying conditions may be eligible for means-tested payments or other supports administered by the Department of Social Protection.