Frequently Asked Questions
Consultants’ Pensions – Frequently Asked Questions

Q. If a consultant retires twelve months early on the basis of their historic rest day entitlements at age 59 how is s/he treated?

A. Provided the consultant is entitled to the maximum rest day provisions (and this an important caveat), the consultant will receive full salary between the age of 59 and 60 and at age 60 will receive their lump sum and pension payments thereafter.

Q. How would I be paid if I retire at age 60?

A. Once you reach 60 (the earliest age you are entitled to retire) you will be entitled to payment of a lump sum and ongoing pension payments thereafter based on service (see above).

Your professional added years will be clawed back however, so, for example, if you have thirty years actual service, entitling you to 10 added years, you will have the difference between your retirement date (60) and the full retirement date of 65 deducted and in this case receive five added years only.

Q. If I spent my last few years job-sharing, how would my pension payments be calculated?

A. Your pension is calculated by reference to your actual salary on final retirement, rather than your actual income. In regard to job sharing generally, for every year worked, you are credited with six months reckonable service.

Q. What about recognition of time spent working outside Ireland?

A. EU legislation requires that this must be recognized; the Department of Finance is currently preparing proposals to give effect to this entitlement.

Q. What are the rules regarding my basic pension entitlements?

A. The earliest you can retire (other than on grounds of ill-health) is age 60; you must retire at 65. A minimum of five years' service is required to qualify for a pension and lump sum.

You need 40 years' reckonable service to reach full pension. This may be made up of 30 years actual service (including NCHD service) in addition to one-third of actual service (up to a maximum of 10 years) in respect of added professional years.

Payments for extra responsibilities are also pensionable provided these are received within the final three years of the consultants' employment.

Q. Are B and C factor payments pensionable?

A. B factor payments are pensionable, C factor payments are not pensionable.

Q. If I retire between age 60 and 65 is it true that I would not be able to avail of public service pension until age 65 and would have to live off other earnings/savings in the interval?

A. No, provided you meet the qualifications set out above, then once you reach 60 (the earliest age you are entitled to retire) you will be entitled to payment of a lump sum and ongoing pension payments therafter based on your service.

Q.If I were to retire from the public service on health grounds with medical certification what happens regarding income now to age 65 and from age 65 on?

A. For consultants retiring on grounds of ill-health (agreed as such by the employer and essentially meaning you are unable to continue working in your post) the following provisions apply:

Provided you have a minimum of twenty years' service, you will automatically receive an additional 6.6 years service plus added years for professional qualifications (this combination cannot exceed ten added years in total).

If you retire on grounds of ill-health you will receive your lump sum and pensions payments immediately _ you do not have to wait until 60.