The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2007

Pension contributions

57.—(1) A regular firefighter shall, except where an election under article 59 has effect, pay pension contributions to the Board at the rate specified in paragraph (2).

(2) The rate is—

(a) for a person who takes up employment with the Board on or after 6th April 2006, unless article 2(6) applies, 8.5 per cent of his pensionable pay; or

(b) in any other case, 11 per cent of his pensionable pay.

(3) The contributions payable under paragraph (1) on each instalment of pay are due at the same time as that instalment and, without prejudice to any other method of payment, may be deducted by the Board from the instalment.

(4) For each financial year beginning with the financial year commencing on 1st April 2006, the Board shall, by transfer to its Firefighters’ Pension Fund from any other fund maintained by it, make an annual contribution towards the discharge of its future liability for the payment of pensions under this Scheme and the Compensation Scheme.

(5) The annual contribution shall be such percentage of the Board’s estimate of the aggregate of the pensionable pay, for the year in respect of which the contribution is made, of those firefighters employed by the Board who are required by paragraph (1) to make pension contributions in that year, as shall have been notified to it for that year by the Department.

(6) Where a firefighter elects under article 59(1) not to pay pension contributions, nothing in paragraphs (3) and (4) shall require the Board to make a contribution in respect of its future liability for the payment of his pension as regards—

(a) in the financial year in which notice of that election is given, the part of the year that falls after the first date after the notice is received on which an instalment of pay falls due; and

(b) any later period in which the election not to pay pension contributions has effect.