asked the Minister for Finance the number of (a) voluntary redundancies (b) involuntary redundancies and (c) early retirements created in the public sector over the past year; the projected overall number which he hopes to attain; the total numbers being sought in each Department, State or semi-State body; and the projected cost for these in (a) 1987 and (b) 1988.
Written Answers. - Government Redundancy-Early Retirement Scheme.
62.
The public service early retirement scheme is being offered to eligible public servants on a voluntary basis so consequently, there have been no enforced redundancies under the scheme. Eligibility for the scheme was initially confined to persons working in areas where developments had made particular groups of staff surplus to the needs of the public service but was subsequently extended to the over 50's in most areas of the public service.
I indicated in my Budget Statement that the redundancy terms will remain available during 1988. Within the broad parameters set out above it is a matter for local management in the first instance to determine how widely the terms of the scheme will be offered in particular organisations and also the criteria to be applied in deciding whether to accept applications. The approach adopted in any particular area of the public service will depend on the circumstances in that area including its financial allocation within which they must operate and whether staff are surplus to requirements. For this reason, there are no predetermined targets for voluntary early retirement set for individual Departments or State-sponsored bodies. A total of 1,135 public servants left under the early retirement scheme during 1987. A further 3,300 approximately have left so far this year.
The costs of redundancy lump sums are borne in the first instance by the direct employer, who then seeks recoupment from the Vote for public service early retirement payments. There is therefore a short interval between retirements and subsequent recoupment from the Vote. The costs of redundancy payments for those who left in 1987 amounted to £11.5 million of which £8.4 million was recouped to the employing agencies in that year. Issues totalling £16.1 million approximately have been made so far this year from the Vote for early retirements. This figure included costs incurred during 1987 but not recouped to the agencies in question before the end of the year.