306. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage which body has ultimate authority for interpreting the provisions of the local government superannuation scheme in relation to ill-health retirement and professional added years, namely the Department, local authorities, MyPay, or another body; and the appeals or review mechanisms available where conflicting advice is issued. [75037/26]

307. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether professional added years awarded under the local government superannuation scheme are subject to clawback where an employee retires on certified ill-health grounds after reaching 60 years-of-age; the legislative basis for his Department's position; and if he will provide details of the relevant statutory provisions and circulars. [75034/26]

308. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department's policy regarding members of the local government superannuation scheme who retire on certified ill-health grounds after attaining the minimum retirement age of 60 years; whether such retirements are regarded as ill-health retirements or standard retirements for pension calculation purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75033/26]

310. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a member of the local government superannuation scheme who entered local authority service prior to 1 April 2004 and who was awarded professional added years in accordance with the scheme retains the full benefit of those added years where they retire on certified permanent ill-health grounds after attaining age 60; if not, the legal basis on which those added years may be reduced or disallowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75104/26]

311. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, in the case of a member of the local government superannuation scheme who entered local authority service prior to 1 April 2004, who is entitled to professional added years under the local government superannuation scheme and who retires on certified permanent ill-health grounds after attaining the age of 60 years but before normal retirement age, such retirement is regarded as an ill-health retirement or as a standard age-related retirement for the purposes of pension calculation; and if any distinction arises in the treatment of professional added years in such circumstances. [75103/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 306, 307, 308, 310 and 311 together.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which they are responsible.   Local authorities are entirely independent corporate entities having full responsibility under law for the performance of their functions and responsibilities, including that of employers.

My Department does not hold employment records for local authority employees and as such, I have no role in this regard.  Any queries regarding an individual’s pension arrangements should be directed to the pension administrator of the local authority concerned.  Where a person is unhappy with any benefits calculated under the provisions of the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS), they must seek a review by their local HR.  Local HR will deal with any complaint through their own internal complaint handling process, called internal dispute resolution (IDR).  If the person is still unhappy having completed the IDR process, they may bring their complaint to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman.