I think it may be the other way around. The variable allowance is more favourable for pension purposes:
"
The value of the fixed allowance to be included in an individual’s final pensionable remuneration will be based on the average annual amount of that allowance paid to the employee during the 3 years of reckonable service immediately preceding their last day of service....
...The value of variable allowances to be included in an individual’s final pensionable remuneration will be based on an average of the variable pensionable allowances received in the best 3 consecutive years in the 10 years preceding retirement, uprated to the date of retirement. The most favourable 3-year period, resulting in the highest allowance amount, will be included in final pensionable remuneration."
Are you sure about that? It would be very unusual for civil servants to be disadvantaged versus the wider public service. I think this Circular applies to both?
https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https:...457408d9ac24104adb2d561f42adcec.pdf#page=null
Only in relation to teaching. I am not sure if it extends beyond that. See 2.1 here
https://circulars.gov.ie/pdf/circular/education/2000/42.pdf
I think it may be the other way around. The variable allowance is more favourable for pension purposes:
"
The value of the fixed allowance to be included in an individual’s final pensionable remuneration will be based on the average annual amount of that allowance paid to the employee during the 3 years of reckonable service immediately preceding their last day of service....
...The value of variable allowances to be included in an individual’s final pensionable remuneration will be based on an average of the variable pensionable allowances received in the best 3 consecutive years in the 10 years preceding retirement, uprated to the date of retirement. The most favourable 3-year period, resulting in the highest allowance amount, will be included in final pensionable remuneration."
Are you sure about that? It would be very unusual for civil servants to be disadvantaged versus the wider public service. I think this Circular applies to both?
https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https:...457408d9ac24104adb2d561f42adcec.pdf#page=null
Only in relation to teaching. I am not sure if it extends beyond that. See 2.1 here
https://circulars.gov.ie/pdf/circular/education/2000/42.pdf
Hi ruffian, thanks for the circular. Is this just for teachers and education higher duty workers though. It may now apply for other workers in Public sector HSE etc but I think “Temporary”HigherDuty allowances in civil service which continue for years may not always be pensioned unless agreed or negotiated locally.
I am aware of a colleague, public sector, Solas, previously Fas, one of many people, who for several decades, carried out the acting duties, with allowances unpensioned, and were regularised, in the higher grade posts eventually, this was finally resolved as they were in the process of going to the WRC. I believe this was a relatively recent change on behalf of the public sector approx 2015 and changes public sector, but not the civil service.
Teachers are treated differently regarding their acting, supervision, Principal allowances, they are pensioned. I understand they were always pensioned. There are considerable differences between public and civil service in treatment regarding pensions and variable pensionable allowances.
Civil servants cannot avail of the WRC so would be unable to resolve this discrepancy through this mechanism.
I had asked the question regarding the difference between variable and fixed allowances on site but did not receive a response at that time . It appears and I will stand corrected that the variable allowance only uses a net figure eg as in my case ref variable pensionable allowances.
I believe strongly that there are differences, which I have been trying to have resolved for decades. I do believe the reason that certain civil servants, are disadvantaged re higher duty allowances, by comparison to those in public sector in receipt of acting allowances.
I have asked these questions, through the union and Management, pensions, HR in public and civil service since 2008, when I was a public servant. I am now designated as a civil servant and I see this work in practice. I have seen exceptions though whereby employees bring a case of C.I.D. and I am always trying to seek facts from those who are knowledgeable, in particularly the civil service area. I thank you for your information and input.
