asked the Minister for the Public Service the number of workers in the public service who continue to work after normal retirement age, in any capacity.
Written Answers . - Retired Public Service Employees .
564.
: My responsibility in relation to the retention of staff after retiring age is, in accordance with the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956, confined to civil servants. Those who continue to work in the civil service after the normal retirement age are almost entirely persons who have been retained on grounds of hardship.
A survey last year indicated that there were approximately 620 retained as at 1 July 1982. As Departments have delegated authority within specified guidelines to retain officers it would be necessary to circularise all Departments to ascertain the current position. The number retained has been declining, however, with the adoption of more stringent standards for retention and it is estimated that currently the number would be of the order of 500.