The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2008 sets out the training requirements for pension trustees.  It imposes an obligation on employers to arrange training for trustees of pension schemes in relation to:

• the Pensions Act;
• other laws governing the operation of the scheme or trust;
• the duties and responsibility of trustees; and
• such other matters relating to the effective management of the trust or scheme as are prescribed.

This obligation is in force from 1 February 2010.

From February, trustees must receive training within six months of their appointment and at least every two years thereafter.  Where a person is already a trustee before 1 February 2010, the training will have to be completed before 1 February 2012 and at least every two years thereafter.  The requirement does not apply to professional trustees.

Where an employer breaches their obligation to provide appropriate training they may be prosecuted.  Where a trustee is offered this training by the sponsoring employer and fails to attend, he may incur an on the spot fine from the Pensions Board of €2,000 per offence.  The Pensions Board has taken a strict line on compliance since the introduction of the on-the-spot fines regime.