The New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012

Made4th April 2012

Coming into operation1st April 2012

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 10(1), (3), (4) and (5) of the Fire Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1984 1, and now vested in it2 and with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel in accordance with Article 10(1) of that Order makes the following Order:

Citation and commencement

1.

This Order may be cited as the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 and shall come into operation on 1st April 2012.

Amendment of the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2007

2.

The Annex to the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 3 (in which the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) is set out) is amended in accordance with articles 3 and 4.

3.

In Chapter 1 of Part 11 (pensionable pay, pension contributions and purchase of additional service), in article 63(1) (pension contributions) for “at the rate of 8.5% of his pensionable pay” substitute “at the rate of his pensionable pay specified in the Table in Schedule A1”.

4.

After Part 15 insert—

“Schedule A1
Pension Contributions
1.
The rate of the pension contribution mentioned in article 63(1) of Part 11 is that specified in the Table below by reference to the amount of the pensionable pay of the firefighter member in the first column of the Table.
2.
The amount of pensionable pay of a retained or volunteer firefighter for the purpose of the first column of the Table shall be that firefighter’s reference pay.
3.
The amount of pensionable pay of a part-time regular firefighter for the purpose of the first column of the Table shall be the amount of pensionable pay of a whole-time regular firefighter of equivalent role and length of service.
4.
Where there has been a permanent material change to the terms and conditions of a firefighter member’s employment which affects his pensionable pay, from the date of that change pensionable pay shall be calculated by reference to the revised amount.
5.
Pensionable pay in the first column of the Table does not include payments made to a regular firefighter by the Board in respect of his continual professional development, but those payments will be included in his pensionable pay for the purposes of the application of the rate specified in the second column.
Pensionable pay
Contribution rate from 1^st April 2012
Up to and including £15,000
8.5 % of pensionable pay
More than £15,000 and up to and including £30,000
8.8 % of pensionable pay
More than £30,000 and up to and including £40,000
8.9 % of pensionable pay
More than £40,000 and up to and including £50,000
9.0 % of pensionable pay
More than £50,000 and up to and including £60,000
9.1 % of pensionable pay
More than £60,000 and up to and including £100,000
9.3 % of pensionable pay
More than £100,000 and up to and including £120,000
9.5 % of pensionable pay
More than £120,000
9.7 % of pensionable pay”

Pensionable pay	Contribution rate from 1^st April 2012
Up to and including £15,000	8.5 % of pensionable pay
More than £15,000 and up to and including £30,000	8.8 % of pensionable pay
More than £30,000 and up to and including £40,000	8.9 % of pensionable pay
More than £40,000 and up to and including £50,000	9.0 % of pensionable pay
More than £50,000 and up to and including £60,000	9.1 % of pensionable pay
More than £60,000 and up to and including £100,000	9.3 % of pensionable pay
More than £100,000 and up to and including £120,000	9.5 % of pensionable pay
More than £120,000	9.7 % of pensionable pay”

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 4^th April 2012.

Noel McCann

A senior officer of the

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

The Department of Finance and Personnel approves this Order.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on 4^th April 2012.

Mike Brennan

A senior officer of the

Department of Finance and Personnel

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2007.

The amendment is to provide a different rate for pension contributions payable by firefighter members of the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme which increase according to the amount of pensionable pay which the firefighter member receives. The contribution rate which applies to a firefighter member is specified in the second column of the Table in Schedule A1 in relation to the amount of his pensionable pay. The contribution rate which applies to a part-time regular firefighter is that which is specified as though he had been a whole-time firefighter. Where there is a change in a firefighter member’s pensionable pay, the contribution rate which applies from that date, is that specified for the revised amount of pensionable pay. For the purposes of ascertaining the rate of contribution, the pensionable pay does not include any payments made for continual professional development, although these payments are included in pensionable pay for the purposes of calculating the pension contribution to be paid.