The Department of Education has announced the relaxation of the ‘abatement’ rules concerning retired teachers returning to work in post-primary schools or the wider public service.
There is a general rule in the Teachers’ Superannuation Schemes that, while a retired teacher may return to work in the public sector, including in a school, the total of their earnings (adding pension and salary in retirement together) cannot exceed the salary they would have been earning if they had not retired. If they are earning more than the amount allowed, then their pension is reduced for every euro above the permitted amount. This is termed ‘abatement’.
Department of Education Circular 03/2021 is a response to current teacher shortages, and is designed to attract retired teachers back into teaching by suspending the ‘abatement’ rule for a period of up to three years commencing January 2021. Retired teachers will be able to return to teaching with no limit on the salaries they may earn on top of their pension, and hence no fear of abatement, for up to 50 school days per calendar year. A school/ETB will have to confirm that it is not practicable to meet the teaching requirement other than by the employment of a retired teacher. A retired teacher may be employed on a casual substitution basis up to a fixed-term temporary contract.
The rules regarding eligibility for a supplementary pension (for teachers retiring before their 66th birthday and who paid A-rate PRSI during their career) remain in place. A teacher in receipt of a supplementary pension loses that entitlement if they return to work, including under the provisions of this Circular. Furthermore, retired teachers will have to renew their Teaching Council registration in order to be paid by the Department of Education or their ETB.
Department of Education Circular 03/2021 can be view here
