asked the Minister for the Public Service the source of funding from which severance payments are made in respect of the removal or retirement of an established civil servant for the following reasons (a) in the consequence of the abolition of his office or position (b) for the purpose of improvements within the Department in which he was employed bringing about greater streamlining and efficiency; and the occasions on which any such payments have been made from this fund since its inception.
Written Answers. - Severance Payments.
563.
Compensation for loss of office by established civil servants is paid out of Voted Moneys. Payments are made from the Superannuation Vote. In the case of the former Department of Posts and Telegraphs, such compensation was borne by the superannuation subhead of the Vote for that Department and continuing payments are borne by An Post or Bord Telecom Éireann as appropriate.
Since the enactment of the Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1963, which amended the previous legislative provsions, such compensation arose as follows:
43 Social Welfare staff arising from a reorganisation;
20 members of the staff of the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, arising from the transfer of the hospital to the Eastern Health Board;
Three civil servants arising from changes to effect efficiency or economy;
Under an early retirement scheme introduced in 1981, which was voluntary in relation to day staff but compulsory in relation to night and part-time staff, 891 telephonists employed in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs got severence payments in the period up to 31 December 1983 — approximately 600 of these were established civil servants.