The Firefighters’ Compensation Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) and the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015

Explanatory note

Reproduced verbatim from the instrument as published on legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). The note is prepared by the responsible government department and is not part of the instrument itself.

This Order amends the Annex to the Firefighters’ Compensation Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 which provides for a compensation scheme for firefighters and dependants of firefighters in Northern Ireland (“the Compensation Scheme ”). The amendments to the Compensation Scheme set out in Schedule 1 to this Order are consequential on the coming into operation of the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2015 (“the 2015 Scheme”) set out in the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.

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

Provisions of this Order mentioned in article 1(2) and (3) have retrospective effect by virtue of article 10(4) of the Fire Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1984, as continued by article 60 of the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.

The main effects of the amendments made by Schedule 1 to this Order to the Compensation Scheme are the insertion of references to relevant provisions of the 2015 Scheme to ensure that the provisions of the Compensation Scheme apply to members of the 2015 Scheme, the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme and the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme.

The main effects of the amendments made by Schedule 2 to this Order to the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme are to:

update provisions and terminology as a consequence of the coming into operation of the 2015 Pension Scheme;

make minor amendments to clarify references in the definitions of special deferred member, special eligibility criteria, special firefighter member and special pensioner member;

clarify provisions relating to the payment of interest;

to extend the time available to the Board to complete the options exercise for the ‘modified scheme’ up to a maximum of 6 months. The New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme was amended in April 2015 to introduce provisions enabling individuals employed as retained firefighters during the period 1st July 2000 and 5th April 2006 to purchase pension benefits in respect of this employment (“the Modified Scheme”). The Board had until 31st March 2015 to undertake and conclude an options exercise to identify all those former and current employees with an entitlement to join the Modified Scheme. The provisions extend this time period by 6 months;

uprate the contribution bands by 1% per annum each year until 1st April 2018. Annex A1 of the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme sets out the contribution rates payable by members which are determined by reference to the applicable pensionable pay band. Schedule AB1 sets out the contribution rates for special members. This Order amends both tables to provide an annual one per cent uplift in the pay bands until 2018.

Certain amendments made in Schedules 1 and 2 correct minor drafting errors.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for these Regulations as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.